New Delhi, Mar 20: The National Commission for Women (NCW) successfully concluded Media Manthan, a two-day National Journalist Meet at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan today, bringing together print and digital media professionals from across the country, with participation from journalists representing over 20 States and Union Territories, to deliberate on responsible, ethical, and gender-sensitive reporting on women’s issues.
The initiative aimed to strengthen the role of media as a vital partner in promoting dignity-based narratives, ensuring legal awareness, and encouraging informed and sensitive coverage of issues concerning women. The meet served as a dynamic platform for journalists, editors, legal experts, and media practitioners to engage in meaningful dialogue on the challenges, responsibilities, and evolving opportunities in reporting on women.
The event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chairperson of NCW, Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, on presence of Member Secretary, Sh Sudeep Jain and Additional Secretary Smt Radhika Chakravarthy. The Chairperson underscored the transformative power of media in shaping public perception and advancing women’s rights. She emphasised that responsible journalism must move beyond mere reportage to fostering awareness, safeguarding dignity, and promoting gender justice.
In her address, she remarked, “Gender-sensitive reporting is a commitment to dignity, truth, and justice—where women’s voices are respected, not sensationalised.”
During the inaugural session, two significant publications were released — “True Cyber Sakhi” by Truecaller and “Reporting with Dignity” by the National Commission for Women — both designed to guide media professionals towards ethical reporting practices and safer digital engagement.
The Media Manthan conference featured a series of insightful thematic sessions:
• A session on Media Law and Ethical Framework by Dr. Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate and Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and Member, NCW Committee,highlighting legal boundaries and ethical responsibilities in media reporting.
• A session on Laws Related to Women by Sh. Manmohan Verma, Law officer, NCW providing detailed insights into legal safeguards for women and the implications of media coverage.
• A session titled Media in Transition, Women in Transformation: Portraying with Dignity, Depth and Diversity by Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice Chancellor Indian Institute of Mass Communication focusing on the evolving narrative frameworks in media.
• A session on Language, Framing and Reporting Practice led by Swaty Gupta, broadcasters Prasar Bharti emphasising the critical role of language in shaping public perception and responsible storytelling.
An engaging interactive discussion enabled participants to share success stories, identify challenges, and highlight gaps and best practices in reporting on women across different regions.
A special interactive session was conducted by Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, who engaged directly with media professionals in an open dialogue, encouraging journalists to act as catalysts for change and become strong, responsible voices for women’s empowerment.
