Regretting that newspapers have still not reached women significantly, in Karnataka, N. Usharani, veteran journalist and HOD, Journalism and Mass Communication, Mysore University, said that with less than 50% female literacy, mainly in North Karnataka, rural women have no connection with newspapers.
She was speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day seminar on ‘Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Media’ organised by the Karnataka State Women’s University in association with Karnataka Media Academy on Tuesday.
Stating that television was the only source of information for women in rural areas, Ms. Usharani regretted that many of these women often spent time watching daily soaps that serve only as entertainment. “This being the reality of the situation, women journalists bear the greater responsibility of changing the equation and making newspapers reach more women – a big challenge,” she said.
Admiring the contribution of women journalists who have risked lives and careers, she said that journalists such as Sucheta Dalal (for exposing the Harshad Mehta scam), Chitra Subramaniaum (exposing the Bofors scam), Sheela Barse (for exposing the pitiable situation of female inmates of Bombay Central Jail, and Neha Dixit (for exposing right-wing activists trafficking tribal children of Assam), have done exemplary work and set high standards for every journalist.
Supporting the idea of the formation of a Women Journalists’ Association, Ms. Usharani said such an initiative would help in highlighting women’s issue effectively in media.
The women journalists of the State have decided to form an association with the help Karnataka State Women’s University. “We are happy to announce that we have unanimously taken the decision to form a union of women journalists. The modalities will be finalised later,” said Malti Bhatt, senior journalist.
Sabiha, vice-chancellor of the University, announced that it would host the State-level Female Journalists’ Convention next year if the association was formed.
