NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, MAR 29
Seventy-three per cent of women working in media in the country are being targeted and threatened and hence there is a need to ponder over the ways to protect ourselves from such threats, said Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP, at Media Mavens-2023, a special workshop for women working in media organised by Press Information Bureau under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India in Chennai on Wednesday.
Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Member of Parliament being received by officials from @pibchennai in Special Media Workshop for Women in Media at JP hotel, Koyambedu, Chennai.@ianuragthakur @Murugan_MoS @MIB_India @PIB_India @KanimozhiDMK @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/z2TsZs2e9e
— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) March 29, 2023
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi ,Member of Parliament and Gautami Tadimalla, Board Member, Central Board of Film Certification took part in the inaugural ceremony of the workshop.
- Women working in media should ponder over the ways to protect themselves from challenges they face: Kanimozhi
- Empowerment is not something that is provided, it is a women’s right: Board Member of CBFC, Gautami Tadimalla at the workshop organised by Press Information Bureau for women working in media
- Press Information Bureau takes immense pride in organising such an event for women involved in the media field, the fourth pillar of the democracy: S Venkateswar, Principal Director General (South Zone), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- According to a study, the percentage of women working in the media industry has declined since the pandemic: Arunkumar, Joint Director, Press Information Bureau
While delivering the key note address, Kanimozhi recalled her experience in the media industry where she had initially worked. Even though a large number of women are working today in the media, especially in visual media, the environment do not favour them, she said. Many rights that are enjoyed by men are still a luxury for women, she added.
Smt. Kavitha Muralidharan, Senior Journalist interacting with women journalists at the Workshop for Women in Media, Chennai.@ianuragthakur @Murugan_MoS @MIB_India @PIB_India @DG_PIB @DGDDNews @airnewsalerts @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/UQhXZOzT4o
— PIB in Tamil Nadu (@pibchennai) March 29, 2023
Stating that like in any other field women working in the media industry too face various difficulties, Kanimozhi urged them to take efforts to ignore the hurdles and move forward. She further said, in a family, if a man faces a difficult situation, he is supported by his family members; on the contrary in the case of a woman, she herself has to take care of her family. It is the desire of women that such double standards are changed, she said reiterating that women have to progress in the face of such challenges.
This was truly fun, challenging and possibly starting a revolution all in one! https://t.co/dn4fQnzQIm
— Ramya Kannan (@ramyakannan) March 29, 2023
All though we are proud of the notion that women have progressed, a closer look at the situation reveals that it is still in the same sad state as before and that there is a lot of change needs to happen. She asked women to support each other to change this scenario.
Addressing the gathering, Gautami said, even though girls, right from their childhood are brought up to be responsible in taking care of the family, they have an impulse to fulfil their dreams in this society. Although it is natural for women to look after the family, they also have the ability to bravely face the challenges that they come across, she added. In many situations women are even more bold, she said.
Mentioning that empowerment cannot be provided by someone, she said no one can offer the right to women to realise their dreams, as it is their own right. First, it is essential to understand ourselves and know our needs after which we have to strive hard to achieve them, she added. We have to learn to respect each other, she stressed.
Earlier, M Annadurai, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau, Chennai introduced the speakers. In his address, he asked women journalists to make the best use of this workshop which is a platform to exchange ideas from both sides.
Though women in India and Tamilnadu have made various achievements, the right to choose their life partner is still beyond their reach, he said. Although the Property Rights Act was passed after a long struggle, it is not possible to adhere to it practically, he added.
He said Kanimozhi is a leading activist with social concern and apart from being an actress, Ms. Gautami is a popular personality who is administering a social movement.
In his Presidential address, S Venkateswar, Principal Director General (South Zone), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said Press Information Bureau takes immense pride in organising such an event for women involved in the media field, the fourth pillar of the democracy. He lauded Smt. Kanimozhi’s concern in various matters including policy decisions.
P Arunkumar, Joint Director, Press Information Bureau welcomed the gathering. He said this seminar, focusing on women, will be conducted as a discussion rather than a lecture. He noted that according to a study, the percentage of women working in the media industry has declined since the pandemic.
Renowned media speaker and Senior Journalist Ramya Kannan, Chief of Bureau of The Hindu newspaper spoke on the topic, ‘Publicising Women’s Issues: Ethical Considerations and Publicising Gender Based Violence: Strategies for Sensitive News’.
Leela Meenakshi, Joint Director, All India Radio spoke on ‘The Role of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in Regulating Indian Media’. Jennifer Arul, Board Member of the New York based Global Media Project and former Bureau of NDTV Chennai shared her experiences on ‘Women’s Leadership, Misogyny and Harassment in Newsrooms’.
Women journalists participated and shared their views during the discussion on ‘Advancing Further: Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Women’, ‘Digital safety for Women in Media: Being Safe in the Social Media Era’. Journalist Kavita Muralidharan moderated the discussion.
