International: India’s media women network for change

As the media in India evolves, women within the media want to focus on harnessing technology to ensure their own professional growth and build an equal partnership with their male colleagues, writes Manipadma Jena. “We are not here because we have a pretty face or have slept our way to the top. We are here because the media profession deserves us,” says Patricia Mukhim, editor of Shillong Times. Tough words and upfront stances typify Indian women media professionals today. Over the last decade, they have been networking furiously amongst themselves and building up pan-India networks and organisations. The idea is not just to establish pressure groups for gender related change but also accelerate competitive professionalism and close the media gender gap in the workplace.

The goals of the groups of media women have evolved over time. Initially it was all about breaking the glass ceiling, fighting discrimination and sexual harassment, and demanding an end to the “soft story syndrome”. Those issues have, of course, not gone away.

Today, however, there is also a felt need for skill upgradation and greater visibility. As the media everywhere in India evolves from the telex to twitter, women within these organisations want to focus on harnessing technology to ensure their own professional growth and build an equal partnership with their male colleagues. To read full article, click here.