Somalia’s only all-women media team wins global freedom of expression award

MOGADISHU 19 June 2024 – Somalia’s only all-women news team, Bilan, has won the 2024 One World Media Press Freedom Award today, becoming the first Somali media team to receive this honour.

The award honours their courageous reporting over the past two years, which has smashed taboos and blazed a trail for women journalists in one of the most dangerous countries to report the news.

“We are delighted to have our work recognized in this way,” said Bilan’s Chief Editor, Hinda Abdi Mohamud. “We hope that having an all-women news team winning an award like this will change attitudes in Somalia and open up more opportunities for women in the media and professional jobs.”

Established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2021 and funded by the European Union since 2024 through UNDP, Bilan has provided opportunity for Somali women journalists to exercise editorial independence, deciding what they want to report and how. They have used this freedom to break some of Somalia’s major stories on a range of issues, including the discrimination and violence against albino communities, the life of HIV-positive Somalis living on the streets, the abuse of female orphans, schools for autistic children and teachers and the rising opiate use among women in Mogadishu. They have also championed women in politics, business and other male-dominated roles.

“This is a fantastic win for Bilan and for women’s journalism in Somalia” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “And it also sends a message globally that whatever the prevailing stereotypes, there is no country, no profession and no challenge where women are not able to compete equally with men.”

“This award is a powerful recognition of the Bilan team’s impressive work,” said Karin Johannson, Ambassador of the European Union to Somalia. “Their inspiring stories show the world how Somalia is emerging from a troubled past and moving towards a bright future.”

 Inside Somalia, Bilan’s reports reach millions via the radio, TV and social media channels of Dalsan Media Group, which hosts Bilan at offices in Mogadishu. Bilan’s reports also appear regularly in international media, including the Guardian, BBC and El País, raising the profile of Somali women journalists and proving they can compete at the highest levels, even while dealing with discrimination and threats of violence. 

Despite Bilan’s global recognition, the stories of its individual reporters show how tough it can be for Somali women to make it in journalism. All the team have had to overcome intense social pressure to become reporters, sometimes studying in secret or working anonymously. 

The One World Media Awards recognise the best media coverage of the global south. Stories that break through stereotypes, change the narrative and connect people across cultures. 

Each year, hundreds of entries from all over the world are judged by panels of distinguished professionals, carefully selected from the media and non-profit sectors for their wide-ranging experience and expertise.