Female journalists' role in bringing social change
Saturday, 17 November 2007
Iffat Jarin
It was October 28, 2006. The country saw unprecedented political violence in the capital. A hartal was enforced. Clashes between police and the pickets were raging. Teargas was being used indiscriminately. During this anarchic situation, police hit Farjana Khan Godhuli, a female photojournalist, in the head. Though bleeding profusely, she overlooked her injury. She was still busy taking photographs one after another so that no important shot is missed.
Now working for international news agency AFP, Godhuli began journalism right after her Higher Secondary Certificate examination. In the beginning of her career, she faced many odds. Godhuli was often denied good assignments and neglected by her male colleagues. But she never gave up. She thought these are the problems to be tackled with patience, devotion and efficiency.
Now the world has got a different look about the participation of women in all professions. Getting out of the conventional pattern, women are now getting more and more opportunities for work. Women are engaging themselves in varieties of professions in different countries in developed, developing and even conservative countries. One such profession is journalism.
It is now clear that participation of women in mass media is higher than before. Incidentally, their participation in the electronic media is even higher.
In the last 20 years, there has been a marked progress in the mass media. And, skilled women journalists have taken the lead. Women have got the opportunity to have their qualities tested in the fields of computer, Internet, satellite, website, reporting, news reading, and news presentation.
According to a survey conducted by the World Association of Christian Communication in 2005, a staggering 83 per cent of the presenters are females and 18 per cent of the reporters are women. This number has increased by now.
Till 2005, the presence of 108 women in Bangladesh TV channels, 29 in radio stations, 132 in newspapers is remarkable. A decent 78 per cent of the news presenters are women. A female reporter does 80 per cent of her reports about males while a male reporter does only 20 per cent of his report about women.
The participation of women in relatively riskier reporting is now noteworthy. They are now working in energy, sports, administration, economy, and even at times in crime beats. They are also being awarded for good work. Women are engaged in important jobs of technicians in TV channels. The 'Emmy Award' to ATN Bangla is a glaring example of that.
With women taking up journalism, a different kind of change, of course a positive one, is in process in society, especially in the establishments fighting for women rights and their empowerment. Gone are the days when it used to be said, "All jobs are not for women". The country's women have proved the conventional thinking wrong. They are now marching ahead by virtue of their qualities.
Nasimun Ara Begum, president of Woman Journalists' Centre, says, "In the greater context of the whole society, the presence of women in journalism may is still not great. Despite this it, can be said that the limited rights so far earned by women in our country have been possible due to bold role being played by female journalists."
But there is still a long way to go. Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, chief editor of BSS, says, "In Bangladesh, the number of female journalists is still much less compared to other South Asian countries. In BSS, the number of female journalists, for example, will not be more than 10 out 200, which is only 5 per cent. Good news is the number of women in electronic media is much higher and they have already proved their worth."
"It's also true that female journalists, particularly reporters, usually face some problems due to the nature of the job. So the safety aspect is the main problem they are facing. Therefore, parents, husbands and other relatives don't encourage women to take up the profession. But, greater involvement of women in this profession can effectively help develop the society," he says.
Laila Noor comes from a grass root family. Despite having two kids, she chose journalism thinking it is the best medium to get the problems of society presented and solved quickly.
Apart from her husband, no one of her in-laws supported her. But Laila, a graduate in law, didn't give up. Eventually, she succeeded and now working in Daily Prothom Alo, one of the best selling newspapers in the country.
When a female takes up journalism as a profession she has to go thorough a lot of troubles. Journalism is not yet an acceptable profession to many parents.
Sumona Sharmin, feature editor of Prothom Alo, says the idea of women taking up journalism as a profession is yet to be accepted in society.
Given the opportunity, female journalists will be able to do well in any beat, she says. "Women are lagging behind in the profession for lack of social security, transportation and family support, and conservatism lies at the root of these problems."
Rubayet Ferdous, a teacher of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, says, "In journalism, the future belongs to women. There will be an end to male dominance. Women see the world in a different way. Even, the small aspects of a subject don't escape their eyes."
According to Shanta Maria, a page editor of Daily Janakantha, these days more and more issues affecting society are getting highlighted due to the presence of female journalists.
Women can gather more information than their male counterparts. "But, she feels discrimination between male and female journalists remains to be the main problem."
Despite limited opportunities and many restrictions, many women are capturing top positions in journalism in Asia and Africa let alone Europe and America. The march forward of female journalists in neighbouring India is simply enviable.
Chitra Sudramonium, a female journo, unearthed the information on Bofors scandal against former Indian Prime Minister Rajib Gandhi. Geeta Anand, another Indian, shook the American corporate world by disclosing corruption of renowned business organisation. Razia Vatti of Pakistan is a memorable personality not only in Pakistan but also among the journalists of the whole world.
In Bangladesh, girls have started taking the profession quite lately. So they have to face adversities. But things are going on quite well for them. There might come a day when Bangladesh may have world famous female journalists too.
A NewsNetwork feature
It was October 28, 2006. The country saw unprecedented political violence in the capital. A hartal was enforced. Clashes between police and the pickets were raging. Teargas was being used indiscriminately. During this anarchic situation, police hit Farjana Khan Godhuli, a female photojournalist, in the head. Though bleeding profusely, she overlooked her injury. She was still busy taking photographs one after another so that no important shot is missed.
Now working for international news agency AFP, Godhuli began journalism right after her Higher Secondary Certificate examination. In the beginning of her career, she faced many odds. Godhuli was often denied good assignments and neglected by her male colleagues. But she never gave up. She thought these are the problems to be tackled with patience, devotion and efficiency.
Now the world has got a different look about the participation of women in all professions. Getting out of the conventional pattern, women are now getting more and more opportunities for work. Women are engaging themselves in varieties of professions in different countries in developed, developing and even conservative countries. One such profession is journalism.
It is now clear that participation of women in mass media is higher than before. Incidentally, their participation in the electronic media is even higher.
In the last 20 years, there has been a marked progress in the mass media. And, skilled women journalists have taken the lead. Women have got the opportunity to have their qualities tested in the fields of computer, Internet, satellite, website, reporting, news reading, and news presentation.
According to a survey conducted by the World Association of Christian Communication in 2005, a staggering 83 per cent of the presenters are females and 18 per cent of the reporters are women. This number has increased by now.
Till 2005, the presence of 108 women in Bangladesh TV channels, 29 in radio stations, 132 in newspapers is remarkable. A decent 78 per cent of the news presenters are women. A female reporter does 80 per cent of her reports about males while a male reporter does only 20 per cent of his report about women.
The participation of women in relatively riskier reporting is now noteworthy. They are now working in energy, sports, administration, economy, and even at times in crime beats. They are also being awarded for good work. Women are engaged in important jobs of technicians in TV channels. The 'Emmy Award' to ATN Bangla is a glaring example of that.
With women taking up journalism, a different kind of change, of course a positive one, is in process in society, especially in the establishments fighting for women rights and their empowerment. Gone are the days when it used to be said, "All jobs are not for women". The country's women have proved the conventional thinking wrong. They are now marching ahead by virtue of their qualities.
Nasimun Ara Begum, president of Woman Journalists' Centre, says, "In the greater context of the whole society, the presence of women in journalism may is still not great. Despite this it, can be said that the limited rights so far earned by women in our country have been possible due to bold role being played by female journalists."
But there is still a long way to go. Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, chief editor of BSS, says, "In Bangladesh, the number of female journalists is still much less compared to other South Asian countries. In BSS, the number of female journalists, for example, will not be more than 10 out 200, which is only 5 per cent. Good news is the number of women in electronic media is much higher and they have already proved their worth."
"It's also true that female journalists, particularly reporters, usually face some problems due to the nature of the job. So the safety aspect is the main problem they are facing. Therefore, parents, husbands and other relatives don't encourage women to take up the profession. But, greater involvement of women in this profession can effectively help develop the society," he says.
Laila Noor comes from a grass root family. Despite having two kids, she chose journalism thinking it is the best medium to get the problems of society presented and solved quickly.
Apart from her husband, no one of her in-laws supported her. But Laila, a graduate in law, didn't give up. Eventually, she succeeded and now working in Daily Prothom Alo, one of the best selling newspapers in the country.
When a female takes up journalism as a profession she has to go thorough a lot of troubles. Journalism is not yet an acceptable profession to many parents.
Sumona Sharmin, feature editor of Prothom Alo, says the idea of women taking up journalism as a profession is yet to be accepted in society.
Given the opportunity, female journalists will be able to do well in any beat, she says. "Women are lagging behind in the profession for lack of social security, transportation and family support, and conservatism lies at the root of these problems."
Rubayet Ferdous, a teacher of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, says, "In journalism, the future belongs to women. There will be an end to male dominance. Women see the world in a different way. Even, the small aspects of a subject don't escape their eyes."
According to Shanta Maria, a page editor of Daily Janakantha, these days more and more issues affecting society are getting highlighted due to the presence of female journalists.
Women can gather more information than their male counterparts. "But, she feels discrimination between male and female journalists remains to be the main problem."
Despite limited opportunities and many restrictions, many women are capturing top positions in journalism in Asia and Africa let alone Europe and America. The march forward of female journalists in neighbouring India is simply enviable.
Chitra Sudramonium, a female journo, unearthed the information on Bofors scandal against former Indian Prime Minister Rajib Gandhi. Geeta Anand, another Indian, shook the American corporate world by disclosing corruption of renowned business organisation. Razia Vatti of Pakistan is a memorable personality not only in Pakistan but also among the journalists of the whole world.
In Bangladesh, girls have started taking the profession quite lately. So they have to face adversities. But things are going on quite well for them. There might come a day when Bangladesh may have world famous female journalists too.
A NewsNetwork feature