Increasing Representation of Female Journalists in Nepalese Media

Sancharika Samuha, a forum for women journalists in Nepal has recently begun a project titled "Increasing Representation of Female Journalists in Nepalese Media" with an aim to strengthen the capacity of female journalists through improvement of their professional skills and their access to the Nepalese media so as to enhance the representation of female journalists in the Nepalese media.

The project has begun from 1st of July 2006 and will continue until 31st of May 2008 (23 months). During the project Sancharika Samuha will conduct five Feature Writing Trainings for female journalists of five regions and publish a monthly Features Service that will consist of seven articles per edition, primarily written by female journalists. The trainings will have themes of human rights, good governance and conflict. These themes will be taken up in relation to their connection to the issues of gender discrimination, domestic violence and women empowerment. These themes and issues are most relevant in the Nepalese context. The top five participants from each training program will be offered fellowships to pursue story ideas and write on them. Subsequently, these well-researched articles will be published in Sancharika Features Service.

In each of the five regions, a four-day follow-up Feature Writing Training event will be organised for previous participants. The follow-up trainings will start with a one-day reflection exercise to discuss developments and the problems faced in researching, writing articles and having them published either in Sancharika Features Service or other newspapers since the first round of training.

In connection with the trainings and follow-up trainings, roundtable sessions with local and regional newspaper editors and publishers will be conducted with the objective of creating opportunities for women journalists at the local and regional levels to develop contacts with media gatekeepers and editors through direct interactions with them. At the same time, these key media persons will be sensitised on the importance of including more women in their journalistic workforce.

During the project period, 23 editions of the monthly Features Service will be produced with seven articles in each issue. The articles will revolve around gender issues as they relate to human rights and conflict areas. Topics like domestic violence; discrimination against women, women empowerment and others will be given priority. Coverage of violations of women’s rights and the negative impact of the conflict particularly on women and children will be encouraged.

A two-day National Conference will be held on the theme of increasing representation of female journalists in the Nepalese media. Participation of national level media personnel, along with most of the women journalists (numbering about 100) at the conference will provide the forum with a unique opportunity to discuss problems and prospects for women journalists in advancing their position in the Nepalese media.

Feature Writing Trainings

Butwol
Sancharika has been undertaking a project title "Increasing Representation of Female Journalists in Nepalese Media". As one of the major part of the project, Sancharika Samuha conducted its First Feature Writing Training in Butwol - the western region of Nepal. The training was commenced during 16th of September 2006 till 20th of September 2006 in Summerland Resort located at Manigram, 5 km west from Butwol city.

Experienced Feature Writer cum Trainer Mr. Mohan Mainali was the Lead Trainer and Ms. Babita Basnet, Editor of Ghatana Ra Bichar Weekly who is as well the President of Sancharika Samuha was the trainer during the Feature Writing Training in Butwol.

Immediately after the training, a day long Round table session between the trainee and the editors, publishers and the representatives from the various media houses in the region was conducted.

Dhankuta
Second Feature Writing Training has been recently conducted in Tamor Valley Resort located at Bhedetaar, Dhankuta. The training was started from 4th Nov. 2006 and ended on 8th Nov. 2006. Experienced Feature Writer cum Trainer Mr. Mohan Mainali led the training this time as well. As a trainer, journalist cum Treasurer of Sancharika Samuha, Ms. Yashoda Timsina shared her experiences. A daylong Round Table Session was conducted on the next day of 5 days long training program. The editors, publishers and the media representatives from the region took part in the round table session along with the trainee where they have shared their experiences and problems during reporting.