Gender Issues Need Better Coverage

The Kathmandu Post
May 31, 2005

KATHMANDU - Press Council Nepal needs to revise its code of ethics so as to make itself gender sensitive, and it should also develop specific gender guidelines for media practitioners to mainstream gender in media, said a media monitoring report released recently.

The report 'Monitoring Gender Issues in the Nepalese Print Media', which was prepared after a year-long monitoring, has recommended the Council to bring in women in decision-making positions and make its staff gender sensitive.

Interestingly, the monitoring was carried out by the Council itself with support from Mainstreaming Gender Equity Program (MGEP), UNDP, in two phases. The study was carried out between September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004 in two phases.

Out of 334 stories published in 10 daily newspapers, which were considered for the purpose of monitoring, the highest coverage was given by Kantipur, which was 26.6 percent. Similarly, among the English dailies, the highest coverage was given by The Kathmandu Post (7.5 percent).

Lowest coverage during the monitoring period was given by The Himalayan Times, which was 2.5 per cent.

Of the 12 critical areas of concerns identified by the Beijing Platform of Action (BPFA), the highest number of stories was on violence against women (24.3%) and the lowest was on women and environment and trafficking --1.5 percent each.

"The Nepalese print media has ignored some of the recommendations of the BPFA, National Action Plan of the government such as rectification of the anti-mine convention and protocol, reduction of excessive military expenditure and recognition of roles and women's contributions to peace movements," said Dr Krishna B Bhattachan, consultant of the monitoring team.

Gender expert Bandana Rana, said gender orientation is necessary for media professionals associated with advertisements. "For this it's necessary to be strategic in developing partnership with the Advertising Association of Nepal to address the issue on institutional basis," Rana said.

The report also said that all media professionals need orientation in socio-cultural diversity and gender, including gender and conflict in the present situation. "It's also necessary to provide gender training to leaders of media houses including editors," Rana added.