#AWiM21 Pitch Zone received pitches from incredible media women all over the continent. It is our pleasure to profile Sheila Ponnie, from  South Sudan, who won the ‘Women in trade: Financial inclusion as a tool to boost intra-African trade‘  Category. Read more about Sheila below

Tell us/the readers about yourself, your education, your work, your interests and what you do for fun

My name is Sheila Ponnie. I was born in South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation. But due to the protracted civil war in her homeland, my family moved to Uganda, where I spent her childhood and attended Primary/Secondary School.

During the time of conflict in my country, I listened to the reporting of the war and dreamed that I would like to be a news reporter one day too. When I returned to South Sudan after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Nkumba University at Entebbe, I got that opportunity.

Hoping to add to her voice to those reporting on her country’s new and fragile peace while building a solid platform for the future, Sheila accepted a position as a news and programme intern/reporter with Radio Miraya, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS – “they helped me understand the obstacles a journalist faces working under challenging political and security conditions.”

Since then, using that platform, as a staff journalist for several news organisations, a freelance reporter and a documentary producer, I have reported and contributed to conversations on governance, peace and reconciliation, women’s health, girls’ education, the environment and migration issues in Africa.

I’ve also participated in women’s media and press freedom conferences in Finland, Morocco, Uganda, and Kenya.

Today, I work as a freelance field reporter/producer for the Voice of America  (VOA) network, where I file Video, Radio and online reports from South Sudan.

I also cover local news and issues as a reporter for The City Review, Juba, online news. In addition to my duties as the air host of “One Insight”, a nightly talk and music program on Radio One 87.9 FM in Juba. I’m passionate about giving a voice to the public, especially women and girls, and bringing positive social change through my reporting

How did you feel when you found out about your winning?

I felt honoured and humbled that my pitch was good enough to be considered happy when I won.  I enjoy my work and think that other women and even men might find something helpful and pass that on to others because of this award. I enjoy that part of being a journalist most.

What was the most exciting or best thing about this story?

The exciting part of this report, I hope, will be the inspiring stories about the woman who travels in Lorrie’s day and night crossing borders, facing danger and uncertainty to create businesses that will help feed their families, add value to the communities and the countries that they move through.

What challenges do you expect to face when working on this story?

In South Sudan, there is a high level of mistrust, danger, and restriction of all journalists, men and women, and journalism, not only from government officials but also from citizens.  Anyone seen with a recorder or camera can usually expect to be detained and question their activity,  especially around border crossing areas.  I expect to be questioned about my activity and perhaps not allowed to conduct interviews and shoot video or audio interviews in those areas.  People also often feel uncomfortable talking to the media for fear of being targeted in those areas by the authorities; often, the military or police in those areas will demand money for me to continue.  Another challenge will be the environmental and road conditions along the roads that these women (and my videographer and I) will travel to be able to do this story

What support do women journalists need to produce similar stories?

First, women need to have more excellent representation in media organisations in Africa. A recent study showed that women are 2 to 1 in news reporting levels across Sub Saharan Africa.  Those women working as journalists need training from conferences and seminars like AWiM on recognising and pitch stories. Women could also use logistical support to help journalists report stories from a female perspective.

What advice would you give other journalists seeking to produce similar stories?

They should look for and apply to opportunities like Pitch Zone. Even if they don’t win a grant or award the first time they apply, they become exposed to the ideas of other women journalists.  They will also become part of groups like AWiM. So they should continue to pitch because one day, the chance might come.

What advice do you wish you had been given before you pitched this story and before you started working on it?

I have been given good guidance through the seminar and my experience, and now it is my job to apply that advice to this report.

After working on this story, what lessons/tips are you taking with you?

It is not easy to say as I am working on the report for the pitch zone and another freelance story, plus my daily work in print and my nightly radio program.  But I think I will take from this the importance of scheduling and time management and the impact on the balance between work and life.

Did the pitch zone award make any difference in how you executed this story or in your ability and intention to work on this story?

Without the assistance from the AWiM Pitch Zone and the AU, I would not be able to do this story because of the cost.  I also have AWiM, and the AU backing can help open doors.

What is a quote that inspires you?

“I got my first job by exceeding expectations” from Gwen Ifill, the first African-American woman to host a nationally televised public affairs program in the US, and she was awarded the first Film and Video Women of Vision Award. I think that quote is similar to how I got my first job.

Who is an African journalist/media woman that inspires you, and why? 

I would say that is easy; her name is Machrine Birungi.  Machrine is a dedicated professional journalist, radio producer, public information officer and website editor for Radio Miraya, the UNMISS radio station broadcasting from South Sudan. Before that, she works for nearly 8 years as the Chief News Editor and Media Trainer for the Uganda Radio Network. She has supported me professionally, through her mentoring and emotionally, like an older sister, on things of life