News

THE launch of a new daily E&S column brought together women writers from across the region.

The Talking Point column appears Monday to Friday in all editions of the paper.

It gives women, who make up at least 50 per cent of our readership, a platform to share their views with readers each day.

Editor Keith Harrison said: “The Express & Star has a long history of being inclusive and we know we have a huge amount of women readers.

“It was great to be in a room with so many talented writers and it’s great to carry a female perspective on a daily basis across a wide range of issues.”

Column contributors stopped by at our Wolverhampton head office to mingle with fellow writers before indulging in a spot of lunch on Wednesday.

Writers include star of The Voice Megan Reece, Queen of the Black Country Doreen Tipton, dancing grannies The Fizzogs and author Anouska Knight.

Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, who represents the Ettingshall ward, also joined the celebrations, alongside The Haven’s Jade Secker.

Ms Secker, senior community fundraiser at The Haven, said: “It’s great to see the E&S have recognised a gender imbalance in their writing team and that they are passionate and bold enough to bring about change, asking women of all backgrounds, ages, race and religion to contribute to the newspaper better reflecting the community and their audience.

“It was a pleasure to be able to attend and meet some truly inspiring women who are a part of Talking Point.”

The column has already seen writers tackle topics from violence against women, pressure to marry and breakdown of relationships to bucket lists, Love Island and glamping.

Councillor Momenabadi said: “These columns have allowed women in the Black Country to have a bigger voice in journalism and in the region. Journalism is stereotypically a white, male dominated sector so it’s great to see that the newspaper is doing something to challenge this stereotype.”