"Congolese journalism still has many great chapters to write. I wish, with consistency and conviction, to contribute to this history."

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THE METROPOLIS: You are currently the president of the national committee of the Pan-African Network of Journalists in Congo-Brazzaville and the godmother of the Francophonie Youth Games.

Your recent election as head of the Congolese chapter of the Pan-African Journalists Network (PJN) marks a new stage in your career. What does this responsibility represent for you, and what vision do you hope to bring to this mandate? More broadly, what role does female leadership play today in the media and youth sectors in Africa?

MESSILAH NZOUSSIThis election represents both an honor and a responsibility. To represent the voice of Congolese journalists within a pan-African network is to defend rigorous, credible journalism deeply connected to the realities of our people. It is also to assume a responsibility towards a profession I profoundly respect and towards those who practice it with dedication, sometimes under difficult conditions. My vision for this term rests on three pillars: professionalism, solidarity, and the passing on of knowledge.

I hope that Congolese journalists will be better trained, better equipped, and more represented on the continental stage. Regarding women's leadership in the media, I can attest, as a professional in the sector, that the Congolese media landscape today presents a particularly encouraging picture. Women are numerous on screen, but also in positions of responsibility. At Télé Congo, women head the Programming Department and the Production Department. Not so long ago, a woman also held the position of News Director.

Many women are also heads of departments. In private media, the General Management of DRTV is headed by a woman, as is the News Directorate of Vox TV.

On this point, let me be perfectly clear: in Congo, we no longer have any real demands to make regarding women's access to positions of responsibility in the media. The facts demonstrate that they perform these functions with competence and legitimacy.

The challenge now is to consolidate these achievements over the long term and promote their expansion to other media and youth-related sectors across the continent. It is in this spirit that I intend to carry out my mandate: to strengthen national achievements while contributing, on a pan-African scale, to inspiring other countries.

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What are the priorities of your term as head of the RJP? What initiatives have you already undertaken and what are the main projects you wish to bring to fruition in the coming months?

My priorities can be summed up in three verbs: train, structure and open. Train, because I have seen too many talented young colleagues develop without real support.

Today, artificial intelligence is an integral part of our daily lives. It is profoundly transforming our working methods, our information verification practices, and our way of producing content.

Congolese journalists cannot remain on the sidelines of this evolution. I therefore hope that our colleagues will be trained in these new tools, that they will understand their opportunities as well as their limitations, in order to preserve the credibility of information and maintain Congolese journalism at continental and international standards. Furthermore, they must structure themselves, because a network without a solid organization cannot exert lasting influence on institutions.

Finally, we will open the network to other professional organizations across the continent to foster the exchange of experiences and cooperation. In practical terms, I have already begun meeting with numerous colleagues in Brazzaville and will soon be meeting in Pointe-Noire. In the coming months, we will organize practical workshops on artificial intelligence, journalistic ethics, and the new challenges of the profession, while also developing partnerships with other national chapters of the RJP.

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Your career in the media, particularly at Télé Congo, demonstrates a consistent commitment to rigorous and professional journalism. What were the main challenges you faced as a female journalist, and what qualities enabled you to transform them into opportunities for success?

The main challenge was having my professional legitimacy recognized. When you appear on screen, many people imagine that all you need to do is be a presenter. They forget the long hours of preparation, the research, the field reporting, and all the editorial work that precedes a television news broadcast.

My vision for this mandate rests on three pillars: professionalism, solidarity, and transmission.

I often had to demonstrate that my skills weren't simply a matter of image, but were based on genuine journalistic expertise. There was also a more personal challenge: finding my place without sacrificing my personality, without thinking I had to become tough to be respected. Over time, I understood that determination could perfectly well be expressed with serenity. It's this quiet tenacity that allowed me to move forward.

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Having made your mark on Télé Congo's television news and received several awards for your professionalism, do you consider your election as head of the RJP as the natural culmination of your commitment to the development of Congolese and African journalism?

No, honestly. I don't see it as an end point. An end point suggests a conclusion, whereas I still have so many projects to complete. I see this responsibility as an invitation to continue my commitment. I've had the honor of receiving two awards that have marked my career: the Congolese Press Oscar for Best News Anchor in 2019, and then the African Media Trophy for Best Regional News Anchor in 2021. These awards have deeply honored me, but I've never considered them as milestones. Rather, they serve as additional motivation to continue serving a journalism that is useful, demanding, and close to the people.

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One of the RJP's missions is to promote quality journalism and prepare the next generation. How do you support young journalists, particularly women, so that they can access positions of responsibility and contribute to the evolution of media on the continent?

I firmly believe in close, practical support based on knowledge transfer. Passing on knowledge means taking the time to guide a young journalist in preparing a script, an interview, or a broadcast.

It's about helping her overcome the stage fright of her first appearances on set and gradually acquiring the necessary skills. As I mentioned earlier, women's access to positions of responsibility in the Congolese media is now a reality. The real challenge now is to strengthen their skills so they can maintain their positions long-term.

The RJP intends to play this role fully by developing training programs, mentorship, and professional opportunities for young journalists, both women and men. Because what the next generation most often lacks is not talent, but support and opportunities at the crucial moment.

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Behind the journalist, the leader, and the patron, there is also a woman. How do you reconcile the demands of your career, your institutional responsibilities, and your personal life? What advice would you give to young women who wish to pursue an ambitious career without sacrificing their personal and family balance?

I don't claim to have found a perfect balance; in fact, I'm not even sure it truly exists. Behind the journalist you see on screen, behind the leader and the godmother, there's a woman with her aspirations, responsibilities, and limitations. I won't deny that this profession demands many sacrifices. Some weeks are particularly intense, between filming, official ceremonies, and various other responsibilities. It's essential to know how to refocus on what's truly important.

If you truly want to succeed in this profession, you must accept dedicating a significant portion of your time to your career, sometimes at the expense of your personal life. It's not always easy, but it's a reality. To young women who aspire to an ambitious career, I would say to move forward with ambition, but also with clear-sightedness. Never pit your professional success against your personal well-being. These two aspects can develop harmoniously, provided you accept that each requires time, effort, and sometimes a few sacrifices.

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In your opinion, what concrete measures should public authorities, press companies, professional organizations and civil society implement to sustainably strengthen female leadership in the media, in the Republic of Congo and in Africa?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this interview, the Congo is currently an encouraging example in terms of women's representation in positions of responsibility in the media. This reality deserves to be more widely known and valued across Africa. The challenge is no longer simply to open doors, but to consolidate this presence sustainably.

Media companies must continue to invest in the training and development of women in these roles so they can meet the challenges of the sector's technological transformation. Professional organizations must better document and promote these inspiring career paths so they can serve as role models for the next generation.

Civil society, for its part, must remain vigilant to ensure that these gains are preserved and consolidated. Across the continent, the realities remain varied. This is why I hope that the Congolese experience can inspire other countries through the exchanges and cooperation fostered by the Pan-African Journalists Network. "Congolese journalism still has many great chapters to write. I wish, with unwavering commitment and conviction, to contribute to this story."