KARACHI: Women do not become journalists to report on celebrities, the latest fashion or human rights issues, argued speakers at a discussion on Monday.
Why aren’t women journalists allowed to do crime stories? Why are
they only given beats related to women’s rights? These and other
questions were raised by several women at a discussion on ‘Media
Advocacy for Women’, organised by the US Consulate and Women Media
Centre (WMC) at Lincoln Corner, Rangoonwala Community Centre.
WMC in-charge Fauzia Shaheen and her fellow journalists have always
protested against the discriminatory treatment of women journalists by
news organisations. “Women should be given hard beats and pushed to do
the stories that their male counterparts do,” she said.
With only three percent women joining the media, Shaheen said that
more women should be encouraged to join the profession. “Females should
become reporters and also be given decision-making powers.” Agreeing
that women are good for human-interest stories as victims confide in
them more comfortably, she insisted that they should not only be
confined to them.
She praised journalists, such as Zubeida Mustafa and Beena Sarwar,
who took a step ahead of their profession and worked hard on the social
issues.
Sindhi journalist Veengas recalled the time when she started out as a
journalist. “My editor told me to cover only ‘lady issues’ as I was a
lady.” Veengas refused to do that, and went on to cover politics and
interviewed prominent politicians. She narrated how she was mocked even
when she covered stories on human rights. As part of a story on honour
killings, Veengas called it “dishonour” killings, but her editor smirked
and did not take her seriously.
Blogger and activist Sana Saleem suggested using social media. “There
are some issues, such as sexual harassment of women, on which if we
talk in public, people call us ‘NGO aunties’ or ‘woman reporters’.”
Since no one needs to know who you are on the internet, you can be a
part of any discussion, she said.
Saleem appreciated how politicians and policy makers are using social
media as public relations tools. “This gives a chance to common people
to interact with them, and helps builds connectivity.”
US Consulate public affairs officer Corina Sanders wondered how women
worked as journalists in the country. “Pakistan is the most dangerous
place for journalists, and yet women go out every day and boldly perform
their duties.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2012.
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