“In Somalia, being a female journalist means being prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice”

Bilan’s motorbike-riding, football-playing Chief Editor tells us what it takes to succeed as a woman journalist in Somalia and her hopes for Somalia’s first all-women media team

Nasrin Mohamed Ahmed, the Chief Editor of Bilan, Somali’s first all-women media team, has always stood out from the crowd. As early as primary school, she discovered her flair for public speaking when she was assigned to stand up in front of her class every morning to announce the timetable for the day. As she got older, she started to stand up for women’s rights, too, insisting on her right to play football with the boys.

From here it was a natural move to journalism. She started making children’s programs for Voice of Peace radio in Mogadishu while still at school and worked part-time as a journalist while studying Mass Media, Economics and Management Science at university. “It was then I decided to be the voice of the voiceless,” says Nasrin. 

In 2013, Nasrin joined Radio Mustaqbal. She was promoted to Head of Production just a year later. She has also worked for Hiraan Online, Somali American Radio and BBC Media Action, but this stellar career has been achieved against sustained opposition from colleagues and society. Over her 13 years in the media, Nasrin has experienced traumatic events – some directly and some as a witness – including bullying, intimidation and salary discrimination. 

“In Somalia, being a female journalist means you have to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice,” says Nasrin. “Female journalists don’t just face the bombings and the harsh living conditions that everyone else faces, there are also other issues specific to being a woman in the media.”

Somali journalism remains dominated by the men who own the media houses and still hold most of the powerful, decision-making and editorial positions. Female journalists tend to be stuck in junior, poorer-paid positions. Although some work as presenters and can appear to be the ‘face’ or ‘voice’ of a programme, they’re usually unable to contribute or give an opinion on editorial content.

“Two women journalists I know once got offered a training opportunity in Mogadishu, but their boss wanted them to give it up so he could send two men in their place,” explains Nasrin with one of many examples from her personal experience. “The women insisted on going and when they got back, he just fired them.”

In response, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has set up an all-women, editorially independent media unit inside Dalsan Media Group, one of the most respected media houses in Somalia, that will allow female journalists to take control of the narrative. Called Bilan, which means bright and pure, the unit opened its doors in April and is staffed and run entirely by women producing high-quality, high-impact, original journalism across all platforms, including TV and radio. 

UNDP will provide a year-long program of training and mentoring from some of the biggest names in the news media – both from around the world and from inside Somalia – while Dalsan provides office space in a prime Mogadishu location and distribution channels across its media network. UNDP will also set up opportunities for Somali women journalists to network with their peers in other challenging environments and partnerships for the international distribution of Bilan’s reports. 

“It is not easy being a woman in a senior position,” says Nasrin. Every woman journalist faces prejudice both inside and outside the office. Members of the community, especially men, challenge you every step of the way. Even your family resists you becoming a reporter.”

Despite these obstacles, Nasrin wants to inspire more women to join the profession. She plays a leading role in Somali women’s media groups and has been Deputy Director of the Somali Women Journalists’ Organisation since 2013. Her role at Bilan is another opportunity to promote women’s journalism.

“Somalia’s first-ever women-only media unit is a brilliant innovation. It will allow us to tell stories that have always been hidden, says Nasrin.” She believes people will talk to female journalists about issues they have never before spoken about in public, like the abuse of domestic workers and the rape of young girls.

She’s still playing football, too, with the women’s football team she set up herself, Sister Sports. She plays at least twice a week and also likes riding motorbikes and driving tuk-tuks. 

“Some people might not like the fact that I play football and lead a media team,” she says. “But nobody will ever change my mind. After all the challenges I’ve faced, Bilan will be the path to success for me and my female colleagues.”