Journalism Students Explore Gender Equality Through Solutions Journalism

Tirana, July 25 – At the University of Tirana, 15 journalism students tried their hand at producing a new type of story, one that not only reports problems but also focuses on solutions. Through a mentorship program on solutions journalism, an approach that investigates how people and institutions are tackling social challenges, the students learned to report with a gender lens, shifting focus from stereotypes to stories of change.

The initiative, led by UN Women in collaboration with the University of Tirana gave students the tools to look deeper into issues that shape everyday life in Albania. The mentorship was supported by the UK Government and implemented by the Albanian Women Empowerment Network (AWEN).

For Keisi Topi, a second-year student and former football player, the program provided an opportunity to combine her passion for sport with journalism. Her piece showcased the story of a young woman breaking stereotypes as one of the few female football referees in the country, highlighting the barriers faced by women in sports and suggesting solutions, from family support and education to institutional investment.

“I’ve lived the prejudices myself, that girls can’t play or referee,” Topi said. “I wanted to show that women can score just as beautifully as men and deserve recognition.”

Anja Hysa, also in her second year, turned her attention to the gender pay gap. She was initially told by an expert that this was not an issue in Albania; however, she decided to dig deeper. Data from the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) told a different story. With mentor guidance, she highlighted the lessons that can be drawn from the example of Iceland, where companies must certify equal pay practices or face fines. “Journalism can do more than expose problems,” Anja Hysa said, “It can highlight solutions that work and inspire change.” First-year student Skerdi Topalli focused on women’s participation in politics. Despite gender quotas, he found that representation often remains symbolic. Many women candidates were reluctant to speak openly about their struggles, which reflects the pressures and prejudice they face. His story featured a civil society proposal to allocate 10% of public campaign budgets to women candidates. This step could improve both the numbers and the quality of representation. "Mentoring from my professor, Ms. Rashela Shehu, has been invaluable. She helped me understand how to highlight women not only in relation to challenges but also as key actors in creating solutions," Skerdi Topalli said.

Rashela Shehu, the students’ mentor and professor, reflected on the transformation she witnessed. “At first, they tended to focus only on describing the problem. But over time, they began to search for responses, to ask deeper questions, to consult experts, and to think about what solutions could look like in Albania.”

Shehu emphasized the value of integrating such approaches in journalism education: Students would begin to see women not only as subjects of inequality, but also as leaders and role models, giving journalism in Albania a stronger and more inclusive voice.”

This was the first time that students saw journalism not only as a mirror to society’s challenges but also as a tool to amplify solutions.

“Solutions journalism doesn’t stop at describing the problem, it shows the way forward,” Anja Hysa noted.