Media outlets should priotise gender policies, workshop told

Media outlets should priotise gender policies within their editorial frameworks, speakers have said at a training workshop.

Many media outlets fail to prioritise gender policies within their editorial frameworks, leading to biased and insensitive coverage, which results in the perpetuation of harmful gender stereotypes and inadequate representation of marginalised groups, said gender rights activists and media researchers while facilitating the training workshop organised by Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE) in Dhaka city on Saturday. Titled “Training Workshop on Gender-Sensitive Reporting for Journalists and Women Human Rights Defenders," the workshop was part of the Promoting Women's Equality and Rights (POWER) in Bangladesh project, funded by APC/SIDA.

Addressing the issue requires concerted efforts from both government and media institutions to allocate resources for gender-sensitive reporting and inclusive editorial policies, they stressed.

The workshop facilitators highlighted the importance of initiatives to strengthen the capacity of journalists and human rights defenders, urging the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) and the Directorate for Women Affairs to take immediate initiatives to provide nationwide gender-sensitive reporting training and formulate gender-sensitive policies, particularly for the newsrooms.

Journalists must be sensitised to human rights frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and national constitutions, to better understand women’s rights, they said.

Assistant Professor Afroja Shoma of the Department of Media and Mass Communication at American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), rights activist Sheikh Manjur E Alam, Consultant on Rights and Gender Issues Sanaiya Ansari, and Dainik Amar Desh Deputy Editor Sultan Mahmud facilitated the workshop attended by at least 20 journalists and rights activists, according to a VOICE press release.

In his presentation, Sultan Mahmud pointed out that, in Bangladesh, gender-sensitive reporting is often overlooked in both national budgets and editorial policies.

Despite the critical role media plays in shaping public perception of gender issues, there is a significant lack of budget allocation for gender-focused reporting in the national budget, he added.

The day-long workshop covered several topics aimed at equipping journalists with the tools to report responsibly on gender issues. It began with an exploration of gender concepts, e.g., the distinctions between gender and sex, societal gender roles, and the importance of balanced representation, including for non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals.

Participants were introduced to human rights and gender rights in subsequent sessions, which emphasised universal rights and the specific rights addressing gender equality. The sessions focused on key international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Facilitators discussed how the media has often fallen short of its coverage of gender-related topics, pointing out numerous examples where insensitive or sensationalised reporting has contributed to victim-blaming, perpetuated stereotypes, and even re-traumatised individuals who suffered violence.

They also delved into Bangladesh’s legal framework on gender, examining national laws and international principles that safeguard women's rights and promote gender equality.

The workshop discussed the challenges in current reporting models, such as gender bias and lack of awareness.

It also shared best practices, including investigative journalism and fair reporting for both men and women, to promote inclusivity in the media.

Participants of the workshop also engaged in practical exercises, including case studies and role-playing scenarios.