Media protocols for reporting on women and children

Mahita - Plan India under the aegis of Girls Advocacy Alliance has organiaed, one day District level Consultation on Media Protocols for Reporting on Women and Children's issues in Hyderabad recently.

Mahita is a registered organisation working with marginalised communities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Since 1994, it has been working to promote self- reliance and education among women and children from the urban and rural poor, migrants and victims of violence.

Uma Sudhir, senior journalist has spoken about tackling challenges while reporting women and children issues and how having knowledge on media laws would be handy while reporting a news story.

She also shared that revealing the identity of victims in incidents like Disha cases would have a major impact on society. It is important to practice gender sensitivity while reporting on women, children and violence cases.

It is more important to practice journalism responsibly than sensationalism, she said. There has to be aware while reporting on children issues especially from their perspective, she said.

Stella Paul, senior journalist – IPA, Asia Pacific Region has stressed about the effects of climate change on women and children be it in the form of abuse, trafficking, child marriages or violence. If your story was able to make a difference in the lives of people, then you have done justice to your job, she added.

Manjulatha Kalanidhi, senior journalist has asked media to use decent language while addressing models especially women as they are professionals and have an identity of their own.