Gender Sensitive Communication

Keeping in mind the value of campaigning through print and electronic media, WEG has successfully engaged journalists from all over the country. It provides them with the facilities of a resource centre to enable them to conduct research for their features, videos, articles etc. and hold training workshops to teach the method of gender sensitive reporting.

To make the initiative of gender sensitization of the media a sustainable effort, a network of media alumni has also been set up, and so far, most of the journalists who are involved in the engagement process have become active members of our Media Alumni. The main objective of this network is to promote the concept of gender sensitive reporting within media, and to advocate women’s rights through articles, news reports and features.

In order to formalize the concept of gender sensitivity in media, we launched a Code of Ethics for Gender Sensitive Reporting during its 1st National Conference on Gender and Media, held on the International Women’s Day 2012, in Islamabad. Code of Ethics, endorsed by 150 journalists present at the event, includes: Basic Principles of gender sensitive reporting; Mainstreaming Gender in Media Coverage; Accountability and Impartiality, Gender Stereotyping; Coverage of Gender Based Violence; Workplace – Capacity Building and Promotion.

To assess the implementation of the Code of Ethics, we held the 2nd National Conference on Gender and Media on the International Women’s Day 2013. The major highlight of the second conference was White Ribbon Media Awards – for which about 100 entries were submitted by the journalists. Acknowledging the efforts of journalists on gender sensitive reporting, we gave away the awards in the categories of Print, Broadcast, Web and Photo Journalism