Making news: women in journalism Joseph, Ammu

When women begin to claim their own space, define their own issues and agendas and mobilize themselves for equal participation in the public and professional sphere, it greatly strengthens democratic practice in society... ultimately it is the voices and experiences of women themselves, varied, strong and independent, which can show the way ahead. From the foreword by Nirmala Lakshman Making News: Women in Journalism brings together the personal stories and professional assessments of more than 200 women, including familiar names such as Bachi Karkaria, Kalpana Sharma, Malini Parthasarathy, Mrinal Pande, Shobhaa Dé and Tavleen Singh. Capturing the experiences, opinions and distinct attitudes of a wide range of female journalists in print media, this book offers key insights into their views on their profession in general, as well as their perceptions of their own individual roles. Ammu Joseph, a long-time media consultant and observer, analyses the various ways in which gender and gender-related issues affect women in journalism, and presents a frank and forthright picture of the ups and downs of this fascinating field. She traces the history of women s involvement in the mainstream media and probes the diverse perspectives of women working in different parts of the country, in various languages, in both small towns and big cities some just starting out in their careers and others who are already well-established. Their voices reflect a gamut of complex issues from sexual harassment at the workplace to marginalization and discrimination in a largely male-dominated profession. In recent years substantial numbers of women have opted for, and achieved great success in, journalism. However, as an occupation it has not received intensive scrutiny from within the profession, by women journalists themselves. Making News delves into the ground realities, as well as the exciting possibilities, of a career in print media.