JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 29, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD - Speakers here at a day-long seminar on Thursday underlined the need for promoting women in diverse fields, especially in media by providing them equal opportunities and ensuring a secure environment in the workplace.
They said that although the number of women journalists was increasing gradually in both print and electronic media, they still faced gender-related issues.
The conference titled “Feminising Media in Pakistan” was organized by UKS, a non-governmental organization working for women rights, in collaboration with UK Research Center for Women.
The seminar was attended among others by top media professionals and social activists including Leader of Opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehman, Peshawar bureau chief of Aaj Television, journalist Fahad Hussain, social activist Jibran Nasir, Gender Advisor to UN Salman Asif, intellectual Sheema Kirmani, Dawn CEO Hameed Haroon and columnist Kishwar Naheed.
Sherry Rehman said that journalism and democracy were very strongly interlinked, adding that women 30 years ago had fewer role models and mentors and they had to claim their spaces.
She mentioned that 79 percent of the women in media content were portrayed as victims even now.
Hameed Haroon, commenting on how media can change the way the world perceived women’s strength regarding inclusion and self-identity, said that in Pakistan, media was not a domain where women were employed before 1979. He said that he always found women to be loyal employees with immense micro-abilities.
Talking on “Feminising News and Views in Pakistani Media” Farzana Ali shared her views on challenges as a female boss and said that in a conservative society like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) she was always treated as a woman first and a boss later. She added that despite working late nights and reporting on hard issues in Khyber Agency during operation Zarb-e-Azb, she always got to hear “what means she may have used to reach to this position.”
Journalist Fahad Hussain, commenting on sexual harassment in newsrooms, said that the days when the newsrooms were an all-male territory were gone, adding that women had broken new grounds and proved their courage. “Harassment in newsrooms or any workplace depends on the attitude of the management. If there is a zero tolerance at the top, then this issue can easily be overcome,” he said. - APP
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.