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In Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic & Social Council
Associated with the UN Department of Global Communications
The Fellows are on Live Program at Community Radio Borendro
The fellow is taking interwiew at field level

Supported by

Implemented by

Project Duration: January to December 2018

Budget : 18,70,000 BDT

Background Information:

The educated Young women are emerging and potential force in our population, but they have very limited scopes to be engaged in media and journalism. The situation is precarious in rural communities. In addition to the century-old social taboos, one of the vital reasons behind this is the absence of any media institution in rural communities. This has caused a large part [nearly half] of new generation remain excluded from being an effective workforce in the media sector. On the other hand the absence results very minimum or no reflection of the situation of disadvantaged rural women in community in the media and journalism. In Bangladesh, only 18% of the people mentioned in the news are female and 16% of reporters are female( Ref: Global Media Monitoring Progect-2015) .  This crisis has created the context for encouraging the entrance of women in the media with the development agenda. Community Radios can be the best platform for local young women to be the entry point in media and journalism. It is mentionable that 17 Community Radio Stations, presently operating in different parts of the country already employed 382 young women and also inspired the others to come in.

To encourage the process for widening scopes of Youth & Youth women from unprivileged community entry in the media and Journalism BNNRC has implementing the project: Fellowships for Youth & Youth Women in Community Media and Journalism since 2013 in different batches ranging from 3-6 months.. The program has been implementing in 17 Radio Stations supported by Free Press Unlimited.

The Youth & Youth women journalists, aged between 16 and 30, prior to joining their responsibilities in community radio broadcasting programmes and feature writing in local newspapers, were exposed to customized media training to strengthen understanding of reporting, news and script writing and editing during their fellowship programme held During the short-lived fellowship, the school and college graduate fellows joined as producers, anchors and reporters in 17 regional community radio stations some of which are located in remote coastal islands and in river banks. In pursuit of their fellowship programmes the youth and youth women produced over 1700 radio programmes and about 425 newspaper reports which largely focused on messages to free the society from the traditional caste system, good practices in health for women and children, end early marriages, social discrimination, violence against women, promote education, establish human rights though  linking with Govt. Social Safety Net program and give more voices to the marginalized people. Using the information technology in broadcasting the empowered youth and youth women journalists, the majority (96) of who come from Dalit families or the lowest caste in the society.

Objectives of the Project:

  • To encourage more youth and youth women in the media and development community Journalism to work for the rural empowerment.
  • To facilitate and contribute in creating an enabling environment for rural youth and youth women to develop as professional community media journalists in line with Dalits rights on Govt. Social Safety Net Program and others facilities.

Expected Result/Output:

  • The number of Young women professionals will be increased in community media, which eventually contribute in braking the social discrimination and women empowerment process.
  • Issues of the excluded community (dalit) will be reflected in journalism and contributed in drawing attention of the policy and decision-makers of the state for improving their life and livelihood.
  • The fellows will also be involved to inspire the marginalized people to get the available Govt. service and supports by lobbying with local Govt. and administration and public representative.

Achievement so far:

  • A total of 121 youth and youth women received fellowship on Journalism under the program in 7 batches.
  • 96 of them came of marginalized Dalit communities.
  • The fellows produced over 1700 radio programmes and about 425 newspaper reports
  • This program has created opportunities for the women Fellows. At present, 81 women Fellows are working in different Community Radios including mainstream media and others profession in Bangladesh.
  • Through fellows’ reporting and lobbying with local Govt., administration and public representative already some marginalized people are enjoying the government’s provided allowance which value is 8,22,000 BDT ( $1,275 ).
  • Fellows have proved their quality and commitment in developing reports, features and articles. Example- 4 fellows won the prestigious UNICEF Meena Media Awards and other national awards too.
  • In the meanwhile, Community Media Fellowship program has achieved the global recognition too. In 2016, the project has won the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Winner 2016 award of the United Nations. This prize is the first international achievement for community radio stations too.

 

Visit : http://youthwomenfellow.bnnrc.net/

Contact-

Ms. Protiva Banerjee
Program Officer , BNNRC
Tel: 88 02 9130750, 9138501, 9101479
Cell: +880 1814847780
Email: protiva@bnnrc.net

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