Twice in one month, Public Editor Peter Mwaura has written about the need for inclusion of more women in the opinion pages of the Daily Nation.

Women journalists and media producers would agree with him on that – and little else.

His argument that women need mentorship or some other form of “help” to be opinion columnists is very far off base.

It is a pretence that the media as a sector is run on principles of fairness and inclusivity when it is not and to shift the blame for these shortcomings and suggest women are unable to match the challenge, is unfair.

Mwaura suggests the scarcity of women writers in the opinion pages could possibly be their acceptance of traditional culture that allows them to be seen and not heard in public.

Or a lack confidence. Or a lack of ability to write effectively. The loud response to that is – No! There are fundamental issues that disproportionately affect women.

In reality the existence of media freedom within the industry has grown for men more than it has for women.

How can women break into a profession that is run as a permanent “boys’ club” with decisions made where women are absent?

Years of lobbying eventually persuaded editorial managers of the need to advertise positions.

LOBBY GROUP

Today, we at least get to learn of most entry level openings although adverts of senior positions are rare.

Media women (and men who understand the situation) watch as managers seek out their chosen few to write and can attest that it is not an accident that opinion pages are dominated by men.

There is now only one woman editorial manager at the Nation so who will seek out women writers if that is the structure?

For Mwaura to suggest that there are no women to write is all part of the patronising drivel women associated with the media endure daily.