Females in Print Media

Beena Kharel ,who is associated to the one of the Nepal’s leading newspaper i.e of Kantipur Publications Katmandu Post about one and half years .she gains full support from her parents as she told. Not only Beena is associated in this field, there are lots of new faces seen or arrived to accept the challenges. In the context of female journalism Mrs. Motidevi is a first female editor, who edited “sarba Hiteshi” nepali newspaper from Vanarasi in 1947B.S ,which was the first step in the development in female journalism. Likewise Another intellectual female sadhana Pradhan, who edited a “Mahila” (women) paper in 2008 B.s. Again there was another female Kumari Kamakshya who published papers on laws from high Court on 2015B.s Falgun 7th.In 2039 B.s sashikala edited “swasni manchhe”, and in 2009B.s there was “Prativa” edited. After the involvement of three females in this field there was no any sign seen or any step taken or any creative works done. It was so hard to the real situation and condition of the female journalist and journalism before 2046 B.s. there were fewer females who were actively devoted to this field. There were some papers addressing to females like “prativa”, “ swashni mancche “”nari mukti”,”janabikash” ‘chetana” which has worked like golden pillars in the history of female journalism. After the re-establishment of the democracy there was press freedom, which is now in forward position. There are many females who are involved with their interest on this field but there are very few females who are involved as a professional and in commercial way. Within it professional females are very few in numbers. As a hobby 200 females have joined this field but professional workers are only 50-60 in numbers. Survey of “Ashmita” done in2055B.S shows the data of 12.19% of females who are actively devoted to this field 2054B.S.again another survey of “Ashmita” has done in 2049B.S shows the data of 12.3% of female journalist. Within 5years time there was only 0.16% of female increased in journalism, which is less satisfying. On the 9th grade of Radio Nepal there is only presence of 1 female but in HITS FM 91.2 there are 50% female in programmer producing, anchoring and Telecasting. On the context of Nepal Gita Maiya was the first female to honour PH.D in journalism. There are about 277 female journalist but professionals are very few in number. In Nepal journalist federation there are about 2700 journalist among them only 8% are female. Like wise in Nepal press union there are all together 1200 journalist among them only 5% are female. In Media and Communication ministry department there are about 2700 Newspapers registered in females name. In Nepal there are 1536 newspaper registered within that only 19 female editors are associated to that newspaper according to the articles of Bitu K.C published in “Yubamanch “ in 2057B.S in Falgun name “Patrakarita ma mahila” . Within those 19 in daily newspaper -1, weekly-5, literatuary-5, othermonthly –6 and 2 others paper are available in press council Nepal. There are 56 females in Main Media Association. Like in National news agency (Rss) –2, NTV (Nepal Television) –17,Radio Nepal –21,Gorkhapatra –2,Kantipur –5, Himalaya times –4, space times-4, Nepal samacharpatra –1, Naya sadak-2 altogether 56 females journalist. After the democracy establishment some females who was involved in politics has tried to develop female journalism too. So due to this practice now, there is much increased in the numbers of female journalist in the society. Comparing to the male but also there are still less females in this field. Journalism is field full of responsibilities, risk, challenges not only females are having problem, males are also having problem in this field. But also many females are accepting this profession with lots of challenges and risks which they have to bear in the future .we can gain both name and fame and earnings from this field of mass communication, not only Announcer, now females are associated to technical works, editing, producing of programmer and anchoring also and some has been publisher too. Free alliance journalist, correspondent, photo journalist too. There are many females who are devoting their valuable time, creativeness, and effort in this field. This is the real field where we can show up our talents and efforts. And also there are many females who accepted the risks and challenges of this field and joint themselves with their courage .as there has been increased in no. Of media channels in private sectors females are also joining on it. Also there has been many organizations, associations opened as the training centers journalism related field of media .so by this step many females could join this field and take tranings, with an effort creativeness etc. As there are many training centers of journalism like Media point, Nepal press institute com RMRC (regional media resources center) .for RMRC Ms –Nepal Danida is supporting in financial way as informed by Binay Dhital.also there are many colleges who has introduced this subject as a curriculum in Tribhuvan university, like in Padma Kanya college this subject is introduced in both B.A and I.A level before 10,15 yrs ago. But now new course has been introduced before 3,4 yrs and only this subject is introduced as functional paper in B.A 3rd yr level. Also this subject is taught in Ratna Rajya College and Peoples College too. The most important step was to introduce journalism subject in Padma Kanya College, simply Girls College. This subject has given more chances for females to study and given chance to girls who are interested to be involved in this subject. As being related to this field, a lecturer of journalism in Padma Kanya college Mr.somnath ghimire says about female journalism” females are half part of the world, so this half part of world have to be necessarily involved in this field. Now its seen that females are themselves trying to be part of media. Until and unless females are not involved in0 this field this field can’t be uplifted on the females context.” There are many females who have creation knowledge of surrounding effort Activeness willingness to be in this field but they can’t take part on it or can’t be the part of it due to mainly 2 reasons (1) social and religious construction (2) crisis of economical status. Our country is Hindu religion and one of the under developed country since then, citizens of our country are educated & moreover modern but its our great unfortunate of our fate that concepts of citizens are still the same of 16th century, conservative concept are still hanged on their mind, due to social construction and cultural beliefs of typical Hinduism. Whether we want to be modern and change our conservative concepts but also we can’t due to generation gap, illiterate, culture, conservative concept, social norms and values in front of these hurdles. We can’t accept the modernism, which dimly lies in front of us. As, there are many sectors on which both male and female are equally associated like in medical, teaching working in governmental offices etc but only in the context of journalism there are not much-satisfied no of females are joined. Our society consists of two classes educated and uneducated. There are many hurdles in front of female journalism. The main hurdle or problem is Patriarchy society; society where males are uplifted and females are dominated. In this condition females are always put in the household responsibility .so when they handle household job, they loose their creativeness, effort and willingness to be in this field and kill their career. After there is a gender discrimination in this field, if not then why females are not given chance and support from there family in this field. Here in society there is concept that female should be married and serve their house and rear and care their children. This kind of concept can never develop female’s personality. Until and unless there is gender discrimination and no support from family she can never develop her personality and career and always be backward on the society. In Hindu tradition, females roam outside the home for a night on the work or spend night out sides for reporting and collecting news, survey reports for investigation of articles over the situation or if she has will and she do it so, than there will be rumors pointing towards her pure character in the society. Although there is a slogan of female and male are equal in rights this slogan only depends on theoretical senses. There seem less practical steps taken to prove this slogan. “Pukar Shah “ program assistant of “Sathi” organization says” women should be devoted to their job in this field, every weak point of female should be given chance to make it up, people must be convenient to bring female in their field .we should view on matter or situtation they need. There are less female journalist due to male dominant society, some roles of media has also misused them, which is absolutely awful. Lastly he further says both male and female should be limit on using their rights which they have got.” There are some females who have joined journalism with studies of universities like Subechkshya Bindu Tuladhar who came to join this field while she was studying sociology but now she former senior correspondent of Nepal Samachar Patra Dainik. Like subeckshya, there is Sushan Maskey who came to this field while she was end of university studies. Now she is former editor of female magazine Ashmita that gives voice for female. Many female journalists has escaped from this field and joined NGO due to much facilities or some leave after the marriage. On the context of female journalist Bina Kharel suggest to married female that “there is hard to be devotee for married female, due to inconvenient and irregular hours .so if you want to be in this field, then you don’t come without support of your family. As she suggests to those who are wanting to be in this field. “ Beijing women’s conference has pointed out the main sector for communication or media .so women’s ministry welfare society has brought 4 pointed moral laws on the topics of” gender equality and women empowerment national working plan” they are (1) Gender sensivity on media (2) positive attitude towards females on media (3) females have to be involved in decision making post (4) different option in new media has to be developed. Though there are many seminars held, and many papers presented and many org. has worked on it, but also there is less change on the female involvement. There is no any laws paper made on it. As talking to mana shrestha of city page about female involved in journalism she says” it depends on the society, educative society has helped the females to be in this field, but uneducative society has not given support to females to be in this field.” At last, if we want to develop this field than we should first develop each and every sector and give priority in them as well. There shouldn’t be gender discrimination in division of the work there should be equal in all aspects. Family support should be given in most way. Until and unless there won’t be female developed, and honour by giving chance to show their creativity. There will be less chance of country’s development. So to the parents who has conservative concepts” please throw out your conservative concepts from your mind and let your female or girl do whatever they are willing and wanting to do for their career.” Reecha Sharma Tiwari Sarkari Dhara ,KTM