'More recognition to encourage women in journalism'

More recognition to their work and empowerment are needed to encourage more female journalists to join the profession, experts told a workshop on 'Portrayal of women in Bangladesh media' in the city yesterday.
They said women's participation in journalism, including electronic and print media, marked a significant rise in the last few years but many of them are not getting opportunities to write about more important and challenging issues due to their stereotypical image in society.
Sima Moslem, director, research department of Bangladesh Press Institute, presented a keynote paper in the workshop organised by South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), Bangladesh chapter with support from South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) at the National Press Club.
The way women are portrayed in the media, be that advertisement or news, can be compared to that of a product. Reports of rapes and abuses are published with explicit details with photographs, she said.
Sima further said that news reports regarding women tend to be more on the negative side than positive, adding that these practices need to be stopped.
She identified stereotyped attitudes, unfair treatment, harassment by male colleagues and job insecurity as reasons that prompt many female journalists to give up the profession.
Riazuddin Ahmed, president of Safma and editor of the News Today, said although the country has strong women in national leadership positions, women are facing many problems in both their private and professional lives.
This is due to a general stereotypical attitude towards females, which needs to be changed from the societal level, he added.
SWAM President Rasheda Amin said despite some problems, one needs to admit that Bangladesh has achieved a lot of things regarding women-related issues over the past years.
"Unlike thirty or so years ago when there were only five or six female journalists in the country, we have now hundreds of female journalists working in the field collecting news day and night."
Rasheda said, "However, they would need support from their male counterparts, co-workers and superiors in their professional endeavours to carry on this profession."
SWAM General Secretary Parvin Sultana, Safma Joint Secretary Ruhul Amin Gazi, General Secretary Zahiduz-zaman Faruk, Shamima Azad of the Prothom Alo and noted journalists Monoar Monu and Rosy Ferdous also spoke.
They stressed the need for more positive portrayal of women along with careful attention towards the words used to represent them.