The program, held in celebration of International Women’s Day and titled “Gonomadhyam er Kandari Nari” (Leading Women in Mass Media), was moderated by journalist Munni Saha and telecast live on ATN News, and can be viewed on Bangla Tribune’s official YouTube channel as well.
'Women have not been able to become leaders in mass media'
At the roundtable, Current Affairs Editor of Ekattor TV Mithila Farzana said: "Even though we have not been able to become leaders in mass media, we still occupy valuable posts. Especially in television journalism, women have managed to secure a good place through their skills."
Farzana added that besides their visible presence in television journalism, women are also working behind the scenes in desks, as editors, or as videographers.
Emphasizing the need for incorporating journalism within a definite structure, Farzana said: "If someone is working overtime, she needs to be paid accordingly. A solid structure needs to be built, and for that the progressive people in this line of work need to be put on alert."
'Nowadays people are looking at women's presence in journalism positively'
General Secretary of National Press Club Farida Yasmin said that she thinks women have started a revolution by getting into television journalism.
"They have shown what they are actually capable of," said Yasmin. "Nowadays, instead of looking at women's presence in media negatively, society is accepting it positively."
Giving examples of different activities that women are undertaking in journalism, Yasmin continued: "Journalists like Munni Saha have shown that women are capable of reporting any incidents starting from natural disasters to election activities. They are even broadcasting news about risky situations, which proves that women can send news from any place at any time."
Yasmin pointed out that for enhancing their skills in journalism, women need to be provided with correct training.
"Not only for women, there needs to be gender sensitive trainings, and workshops for everyone," she said. "Journalist unions have a big role to play here. Salary and compensation need to be ensured for everyone, and we are all working towards that."
'Family constraints are the main reason behind women's departure from media'
Bangla Tribune Chief Reporter Udisa Islam mentioned that the presence of women in television is needed for commercial purposes, and whether anyone admitted it or not, there has been and still is a tendency to present women as products in mass media.
Udisa further said even though women have started to participate in other media besides television, there are factors which prevent them from climbing the ladder to the top.
"To survive in media, a woman needs support from her husband, parents, in-laws and relatives, which often becomes very difficult," said Udisa. "Which is why, even after entering into journalism, a lot of women leave it because of family constraints."
When asked whether having wage-board is actually carrying any benefits, Udisa replied: "If the wage-board is not properly monitored, there is no point in having it. In reality, only a few media houses follow the rules."
'The government must take responsibility for setting proper guidelines in journalism'
On the other hand, while addressing the Boithoki, Chief News Editor of News 24 Shahnaz Munni said that there has been a definite positive change in people's attitudes towards female journalists, and female veterans in the profession are the ones responsible for bringing this change.
"Around 15-20 years ago, when we started to pursue journalism, there were very few women in this profession," said Munni. "However, following our example, a huge number of women from the next generation came into journalism. Even their family members have said that after watching us, they understood that journalism could be an apt job their daughters."
Munni lamented the fact that women often give up journalism when faced with adverse situations.
"Women are acquiring more and more facilities," said Munni. "I do not think they should stop and give up at any time. My advice to women would be: do not give up, survive and keep on trying."
Munni also said that the government should take responsibility for establishing proper guidelines in journalism, as every profession needs proper guidelines to take it forward.
"The Information Ministry has said that they are going to establish guidelines, " she said. "But they are yet to be implemented. And even when they are, the guidelines are criticized vehemently.
"A few days ago, the ninth wage-board was declared," continued Munni. "Yet no guidelines for salary structure in broadcast media were set. The government must take responsibility for this."
