By Seli Baisie
Former editor of the Ghanaian Times, Dave Agbenu, has urged women journalists to sharpen their storytelling skills.
He challenged a cohort of 20 women journalists to “stop being passive observers” and embrace powerful storytelling as the heart of their craft.
“The screens in front of you should never turn you into spectators,” he told the cohorts. “Your job is to explain the world, not just watch it happen”.
Speaking at the Dikan Center’s HerPress fellowship in Accra on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Mr Agbenu, whose career spans more than 30 years ran a practical session on writing and editing. He argued that journalists must treat every assignment as a chance to move audiences, rather than merely record events..
The former secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) warned that feature writers often lose readers by weighing stories down with excessive data. “Facts are vital,” he said, “but they must serve the narrative. Keep the reader with you from the first paragraph to the last.”
He encouraged the fellows to: Craft strong middles: “Most writers can start and end well; the challenge is the middle where readers drift.”
Borrow wisely: “Study great writers. Imitate their clarity, not their clichés.”
Write simply: “Good journalism uses everyday language to explain complex issues.”
Addressing gender gaps in newsrooms, Mr Agbenu urged employers to promote women to decision‑making roles. “When project leads insist that 30 per cent of participants be women, we must seize those slots and excel,” he said.
He also advised the cohort to pursue cross‑border collaborations and investigative grants, noting that “global platforms are ready to publish strong African stories.”
While acknowledging the pressure to attract clicks, Mr Agbenu cautioned against misleading headlines. “Sensationalism may win a moment’s attention, but credibility secures a journalist’s future,” he added.
About Dikan and HerPress
The Dikan Center is a non-profit institution based in Accra, focused on visual storytelling, culture, and education. It houses West Africa’s first visual education library and offers access to a gallery, studios, theatre, classrooms, and media production spaces. Dikan’s mission is to foster creative leadership across Africa by promoting learning, storytelling, and community rooted in African culture and identity.
On June 20, 2025, the Center launched HerPress, a flagship initiative aimed at empowering women journalists in Ghana. The programme is designed to equip participants with the resources, skills, visibility, and networks they need to lead change in the media space.
Closing the session, Mr Agbenu challenged the trainees to finish their fellowship projects and “walk out with measurable impact.” He reminded them that supportive networks exist worldwide and that persistence remains the key to journalistic success.
