BELFAST HIGH PUPIL KATHRYN WALKER’S KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM #WIM24

WIM 24’s youngest delegate Kathryn Walker (17) shared her hopes for the future with delegates, touching on career options like journalism, diplomacy and international law. Kathryn also reflected on the ongoing violence in the Middle East and a range of other issues. 

Belfast High pupil Kathryn Walker was work shadowing Amanda Ferguson for the day, and no better day to do it than at the #WIM24 Ireland and Britain media partnership summit at Queen’s University Belfast on Thursday, October 24.

Thanks to Kathryn for writing the follow report on her reflections. She is a credit to her family and school.

Team WIMB

BY KATHRYN WALKER

At age seventeen, there is an inevitable ambiguity surrounding prospects for the future.

What real, authentic guidance are we given apart from ideas of what we ‘should’ do?

Is it not strikingly counterproductive to enforce a career onto an impressionable teen simply because what they want for their own future ‘doesn’t have any money in it?’

Since when was it influential to diminish hope rather than build on it?

These are questions I battled with as I wrestled through my university application, but an event I was graciously invited to by Amanda Ferguson, hosted by WIMB at Queens University Belfast, allowed me to develop a newfound ambition for my once dauntingly vague future.

Watching women who were once in my precise position flourish into powerful sources of knowledge and understanding would be enough to change anyone’s perspective - and I invite you to read my key takeaways from the day.

“Compassion will always be your greatest strength” - an impactful statement made by experienced journalist Jilly Beattie.

Jilly was part of a panel discussion chaired by Susan McKay, another inspiring journalist, and the unwaveringly strong Joanne Dorrian, who alongside her devoted family created the ‘Let’s Find Lisa’ movement.

The trio dissected the matter of ‘ethical journalism at a time of diminishing resources.’

They promoted the idea that journalism was always intended to benefit the public - and to minimise harm they must avoid unnecessary intrusiveness and exercise the fundamental principles of truth and respect.

There is a responsibility as a journalist to not overstep the line - it is a vitality that you use your empathy as a guide through moral and ethical dilemmas alike - journalist or not.

Another striking speaker was Aisling Cannon on behalf on the ‘Walkie Talkie Girlies’ - a society which aims to bring awareness to women’s safety issues and raise money for similar charities.

With over 400 members, the group have an upcoming event by the name of ‘Project Pink,’ which can only be described as exceptionally creative.

The event, a pink themed walk from Queen’s University to Belfast City Hall, aims to raise money and awareness for the “ending violence against women and girls” campaign and strategy.

As Aisling Cannon herself says, the event and the group as a whole is: “A testament of what happens when women come together”.

As the event came to a close, there was a panel discussion that really caught my attention and sparked my full interest.

Amanda Ferguson, and Women on Air’s Roisin Duffy, Noelle O’Reilly and Allison O’Connor discussed the inequality in broadcasting and the social and cultural barriers faced by women.

The words “if you will let me finish” have undoubtably been spoken by every young woman in today’s society - and as Alison O’Connor correctly pointed out - this is almost certainly due to the ‘imposter syndrome’ women feel in a male dominated career.

Is it not unfair of us as a society to leave an impression that careers should be divided by gender?

As the board progressed in conversation, speaker Noelle O’Reilly pointed out something so crucial to the media nowadays - something which I also mentioned in my own speech due to the severity of the situation.

This vital conversation is one of the cruel happenings to physically supress women’s voices across the world.

In Afghanistan, women are prohibited from speaking or showing their faces as to avoid leading men into temptation and vice.

In Lebanon, refugees and asylum seekers are facing sustained human rights violations.

In Congo, conflict rises and so does the violence perpetrated against women and children.

In Palestine, around 44,000 people have been killed in just over a year.

The point of this reference is to draw attention to the fact that these voices have been silenced for years - and with the help of the media, we as women can finally bring them to the public ear.

I shall leave you with a quote made by an eleven-year-old, unnamed Afghan girl…

“You won’t allow me to go to school. I won’t become a doctor. Remember this - one day you will be sick.”

Aisling Cannon from the Walkie Talkie Girlies addressing WIM24 delegates.