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Fair Communication A leading NGO conducts a survey to assess the state of women in Nepalese media
By A CORRESPONDENT
In an attempt to promote gender sensitivity in media, Sancharika Samuha has been organizing various programs. From lobbying and advocating for gender-sensitive news to promoting the issues related with gender mainstreaming, the NGO has spearheaded a campaign aimed at triggering a social transformation.
Recently, Sancharika Samuha completed a survey assessing the state of women in Nepalese media – both print and electronic. The survey results have been published in a book format.
According to the survey, the trend of women involvement in media is increasing, particularly after the restoration of democracy in 1990. The establishment and growth of private media houses and FM stations led to recruitment of considerable number of women journalists.
“The survey was conducted between December 2004 and December 2005. Around 224 women journalists from 48 districts covering all the five development regions of the country were included in the survey,” said Bandana Rana, president of Sancharika Samuha.
Set questionnaires, interview, workplace environment inspection and interaction were conducted in course of the survey. The questionnaire included 121 questions aimed at uncovering facts relating to their family and professional background, working environment, problems they face, perks and benefits, gender sensitivity and so on.
Of the 224 respondent women journalists, 54 percent were involved in print media – mostly the broadsheet dailies. Among those involved in electronic media, 65 percent were working in FM radio stations followed by television. Although majority of the women hailed from rural region, their work was based in urban areas.
Brahmin and chhetri girls dominated their numbers followed by Janajati (14.7 percent). Their academic qualifications were satisfactory. More than half of them were graduates. Most of them come from educated families.
“The survey showed that women journalists are forced to work in a workplace environment that is friendly to males. Discriminations in recruitment, promotion, salary and perks, training opportunities and other facilities were also apparent,” said Gyanu Pandey, one of the researchers of the survey. “Even the physical structures of the office are not friendly to women. For instance, most offices do not have separate toilets for women,” she added.
Addressing the program organized to make the survey results public senior journalists like Kapil Kafle, Durga Nath Sharma, Prateek Pradhan and Yubaraj Ghimire underscored the need to promote gender sensitivity in all sectors including media.
Women For Peace
At a time when the whole country is yearning for peace, people from various walks of lives have been showing their commitment and desire for peace through various exercises. With the objective of lending strength to exercises aimed at restoring peace and promoting equitable society, women leaders representing different shades of society have come together to form a separate network. Shanti Malika, a network of women for peace, has been working actively to promote women participation in all policy-making levels including in peace-building and negotiation exercises. The network had held a first national women peace conference a few months ago in the capital. The conference adopted a 10-point resolution calling on the protection and promotion of human rights of women; involvement of women in peace-building; establishment of equitable society by ending the conflict and so on. Shanti Malika has demanded that women involvement in preliminary negotiation aimed at ending the conflict; in dialogue among conflicting parties; in signing of understanding; and in post-conflict reconstruction is essential if the country is to see a lasting peace.
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