8 March 2017: The Indian Journalists Union, the largest organisation representing working journalists in India, has called upon media managements to develop and implement gender equality policies in their newsroom. Observing the International Women’s Day, with its theme “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”, the IJU called upon the media to ensure there is equal access to leading newsroom positions for women, as well as secure fair gender portrayal in news content.

In a statement IJU President S N Sinha and Secretary General D Amar said that while the number of women in the profession had grown manifold over the years, their involvement in the unions left much to be desired. In fact, more women in the unions would give an impetus to their demands such as closing the gender gap, better working conditions, and setting up of sexual harassment committees at the work place

They particularly called upon the IJU State Unions across the country to also double up their efforts to ensure that women members join the unions and make their voice heard. Importantly, the IJU also asked the journalist fraternity to make all out efforts to join campaigns to fight back the dangerous trend of trolling, especially against women journalists, which is an attack on the right to freedom of expression. 

Joining the IJU leadership, its Vice President as well of the International Federation of Journalists Sabina Inderjit said there was an urgent need for greater action on women issues in the Unions, more so as attacks, harassment and violence against women was sadly on the rise worldwide.

Press Council members Amarnath Kosuri and Prabhat Dash too urged the media community to pay heed to the Council’s guidelines on gender portrayal in the media, which unfortunately had got mired in these times of crass commercialisation. They encouraged women journalists to reach out to the Council in case of attacks and threats against them to carry out their professional duties.