AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF FEMALE JOURNALISTS IN EBONYI STATE
This study examined Audience perception of female journalists in Ebonyi State: A study of Abakaliki. The feminist muted theory was used as the theoretical framework, with a projected population of 170,974. The Taro Yameni formula was used to derive a sample size of 399. The non-proportionate quota sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used. Findings revealed that 52% of the respondents have negative perception of women in journalism; further findings showed that 53% strongly agreed that the discrimination against female journalists to a very large extent affects their contributions to the media. It was recommended that media houses should portray women in good light to change the negative perceptions of the public about female journalists. Female journalists should belong to a functional professional body that will fight their interest.