Media urged to recruit 25pc journos from women
Staff Correspondent
Media organisations should recruit 25 percent of its journalists from women on the basis of their merit, said the speakers at the inaugural session of a workshop yesterday. They said although a good number of women journalists are now working in both print and electronic media, few of them are involved in decision-making process. They also laid emphasis on training for women journalist to make them skilled enough to establish their rights in workplace. The workshop titled 'Gender Sensitive Reporting' for women journalists from outside Dhaka has been organised by Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra (BNSK) with the support of Gender Fund of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at the National Press Club in the city. In her welcome speech, BNSK General Secretary Parvin Sultana Jhuma said although a good number of women journalists are working in different mass media, very few of them hold responsible positions. She said only 200 women journalists are the members of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) out of its total 6000 members. CIDA Senior Development Adviser Tahera Jabin said training in gender sensitive reporting is essential for women journalists. Speaking as special guest, Samakal Editor Abed Khan said more women should take journalism as profession as they can analyse a subject with more attention than their male colleagues. Speaking as chief guest Begum Editor Nurjahan Begum called on women journalists to carry out their duties following the path of the exponents of women's journalism. "If women lag behind the family as well as society will never develop," she added. Presiding over the session BNSK President Nasimun Ara Huq Minu said the workshop has been organised under a programme titled 'Creating enabling environment for women journalists in media' to make them skilled enough to help establish human rights through their reporting. She demanded recruitment of 25 percent women journalists in media on the basis of merit. BNSK Adviser Setara Musa and Training Module Developer of the workshop Shirajuddahar Khan also spoke on the occasion. A total of 25 women journalists from Chittagong, Khagrachhari, Barisal, Chuadanga, Netrakona, Kushtia, Patuakhali, Khulna, Natore and Narshingdi are taking part in the weeklong workshop at the Bangladesh Institute of Communication Studies and Public Relation in the city.
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