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NCW Chief Urges Media to Champion Gender Justice and Dignified Reporting

National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has called upon media professionals to move beyond reportage and actively promote gender justice and dignified narratives. She made the remarks at the Media Manthan national journalist meet, which brought together professionals from over 20 states to deliberate on responsible coverage of women's issues. The event featured sessions on media law, legal safeguards for women, and the critical role of language in shaping perception. Two guidebooks for ethical reporting and digital safety were also launched during the conference.

Key Points: NCW Chief Calls for Gender-Sensitive Media Reporting

  • Promote gender justice
  • Ethical reporting practices
  • Media as catalyst for change
  • Legal awareness for women
  • Dignity-based narratives
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NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar asks media to promote gender justice

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar urges media to promote gender justice and ethical, dignified reporting on women's issues at Media Manthan.

NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar asks media to promote gender justice
"Gender-sensitive reporting is a commitment to dignity, truth, and justice - Vijaya Rahatkar"

New Delhi, March 21

National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar called upon mediapersons to try moving beyond mere reportage to fostering awareness, safeguarding dignity and promoting gender justice, an official said on Saturday.

Speaking at Media Manthan, a two-day National Journalist Meet that concluded at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the national capital, Rahatkar said, "Gender-sensitive reporting is a commitment to dignity, truth, and justice -- where women's voices are respected, not sensationalised."

The NCW Chief encouraged journalists to act as catalysts for change and become strong, responsible voices for women empowerment.

The event brought together print and digital media professionals from across the country, with participation from journalists representing more than 20 states and Union Territories, to deliberate on responsible, ethical, and gender-sensitive reporting on women's issues.

"An interactive discussion enabled participants to share success stories, identify challenges, and highlight gaps and best practices in reporting on women across different regions," the statement said.

"The initiative aimed to strengthen the role of media as a vital partner in promoting dignity-based narratives, ensuring legal awareness, and encouraging informed and sensitive coverage of issues concerning women," it said.

The meet served as a dynamic platform for journalists, editors, legal experts, and media practitioners to engage in meaningful dialogue on the challenges, responsibilities, and evolving opportunities in reporting on women.

The event was attended by Member Secretary Sudeep Jain and Additional Secretary Radhika Chakravarthy.

During the inaugural session, two publications were released -- "True Cyber Sakhi" by Truecaller and "Reporting with Dignity" by the National Commission for Women. Both have been designed to guide media professionals towards ethical reporting practices and safer digital engagement.

The Media Manthan conference featured a thematic session on Media Law and Ethical Framework by Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate at Supreme Court of India, and NCW Committee Member, highlighting legal boundaries and ethical responsibilities in media reporting.

A session on Laws Related to Women by Manmohan Verma, NCW Law Officer, provided insights into legal safeguards for women and the implications of media coverage.

Discussions during a session on "Media in Transition, Women in Transformation: Portraying with Dignity, Depth and Diversity" by Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Indian Institute of Mass Communication Vice-Chancellor, focused on the evolving narrative frameworks in media.

A session on Language, Framing and Reporting Practice led by Swaty Gupta emphasised the critical role of language in shaping public perception and responsible storytelling, the statement said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Good move. But will it translate to real change? We see so many panel discussions on news channels where women are talked *about*, not talked *to*. The language session by Swaty Gupta sounds crucial. How we frame a story matters as much as the story itself.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in digital media, the release of "True Cyber Sakhi" is very timely. Online harassment is a huge issue, and journalists need better tools and guidelines to report on it without causing further harm. Hope these resources are widely distributed.
R
Rohit P
Fully agree with the NCW chief. Media has immense power. Instead of just highlighting problems, they should also consistently highlight solutions and the women driving change in every field - from tech to sports to farming. That's true empowerment.
K
Kavya N
A respectful criticism: While such meets are great, the focus should also be on regional and vernacular media, which has a much deeper reach in small towns and villages. The sensitivity (or lack of it) in their reporting often goes unchecked.
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Michael C
"Gender-sensitive reporting is a commitment to dignity, truth, and justice" - This quote should be on the wall of every newsroom. It's not about being politically correct; it's about basic human decency and ethical journalism. Hope this leads to tangible guidelines.

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