Sports broadcasters from India, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are taking part in a unique mentoring program in Australia to promote gender balance in sports broadcasting.
The women have been chosen for a special broadcasting team as part of the Women in News and Sport initiative (WINS).
WINS is an initiative of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's International Development Unit and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian aid program.
The overall aim of WINS is to increase the opportunities for women in sports journalism and thereby create more representation for women in sports in news stories.
The journalists will attend an intense commentary training workshop with ABC commentator and broadcaster Aaron Kearney and then travel to the Gold Coast to report at the Commonwealth Games, under the mentorship of Aaron and fellow ABC broadcaster and WINS trainer Tracey Holmes.
One of the journalists coming to Australia is Prarthana Hazarika from India.
"Working alongside the professionals in a sporting ambience with world class athletes performing to the best of their abilities will help me grow as a sports journalist and a commentator, making me more confident," she says.
The theme for World Radio Day 2018 (Feb 13th) focuses on 'Radio and Sport' and gender equality in sports broadcasting.
This WINS activity aims to help further the journalists career in sports commentary in the Indo-Pacific Region.
"Only 4% of sports media content is dedicated to women's sport. Only 12% of sports news is presented by women," UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Since its launch by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP in 2016, the WINS program has delivered capacity building workshops, panel events and follow up mentoring and practical opportunities for coverage of national and regional sports events to over 60 female sports journalists from Indonesia, India and the Pacific region.
The program has two key goals; first to support the professional development of female journalists in Indo-pacific regions in the field of sports journalism. Second, to increase the quality coverage women and women's sport in the region.
If you wish to contact any of the participants or trainers please contact WINS Project Manager Karen Shrosbery at shrosbery.karen@abc.net.au.