GUWAHATI, July 21 - The Gender Council of the Journalist Union of Assam today organised a discussion on �Women in media� to talk about the issues and challenges faced by woman journalists in social and professional spheres.
Attended by a number of new, mid career and veteran female journalists of Assam, the discussion revolved around the gender-specific challenges, role and status of women in news media, both print and electronic.
The meeting was chaired by senior journalist Samim Sultana Ahmed, president of the Gender Council, JUA, and also the newly elected steering committee member of the Gender Council of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
In the candid conversation, the participating journalists discussed both about the biases and prejudices prevailing in the news organisations in recruitment, assigning work and creating growth opportunities. On the other hand, the support being given to female journalists for carrying out their work was a part of the discourses. Stress was given on making joint efforts for giving better and prominent display to the news related to women and vulnerable groups in the respective news media.
Some of the journalists coming from the city outskirts and interior areas discussed about their experience of reporting from rural pockets without proper means of transport and communication. Some of them also narrated the stories of social prejudices attached to women working late night or jostling with men to get an incident covered.
The Gender Council laid emphasis on raising a united voice to address the issues of women in media as well as the need to introspect as to why such problems have persisted year after year.
Senior journalist Sabita Lahkar lamented the fact that problems faced by the media women of her generation have existed even today.
�We also need to introspect as to why we are failing to raise these issues with adequate strength and conviction,� she added.
Senior journalist Suparna Lahiri, Chayamoni Bhuyan, Ainitam Oja, Swapna Bezbarua, Nasreen Habib, among others, also participated in the meeting. Gender Council members Sushmita Goswami, Duina Barbarua and Ranjita Rabha and others also spoke on the occasion.