Two-day “Empowering Women Journalists through Capacity Building in Political Reporting”

  1. Home
  2. Two-day “Empowering Women Journalists through Capacity Building in Political Reporting”

The International Women in Media Foundation’s global report underscores the pervasive gender disparities in news media, where men predominantly occupy managerial and reporting roles, while women journalists often face significant challenges, including discrimination and harassment. In countries like Egypt, Malaysia, and Nepal, women are frequently assigned to “soft beats,” covering entertainment or lifestyle topics, and are notably underrepresented in critical areas such as political and economic reporting. In Nepal, out of 2,408 women journalists, most focus on health and education, with few engaging in political reporting. This limited exposure to “hard news” not only hinders career advancement but also perpetuates gender imbalance within the industry. To address these challenges, the Media Advocacy Group (MAG), in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada in India, organized a two-day training program titled “Empowering Women Journalists through Capacity Building in Political Reporting.” Held on July 22nd and 23rd, 2024, at Yak Palace, Lalitpur, the program aimed to equip women journalists with essential skills for effective political beat reporting. The training brought together a dynamic group of women journalists, focusing on political reporting through interactive sessions, presentations on Parliament and parliamentary reporting, experience sharing, and discussions on the challenges and opportunities in political journalism. The primary objective was to inspire and empower women journalists, enhancing their confidence and expertise to excel in political reporting, advance their careers, and assume leadership roles within their organizations. Additional goals included capacitating women journalists in political reporting and raising awareness among media personnel about the critical role of women in political journalism.