‘Gender discourse has come a long way'
Staff Reporter
THE AWARDEES:Recipients of the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity with actor Tara in Bangalore on Friday. Bangalore: Gender discourse has come a long way and moved on to cover the other gender as well, said A.L. Sharada, programme director, Population First, at a function to give awaythe Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity 2010-11 (Southern Region) here on Friday.
This is the third edition of the awards that is supported by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and instituted by Population First, which is a non-governmental organisation working on population and health issues within the framework of women's rights and social development.
Twenty-two people, mostly journalists, were given the awards.
Changing the mindset
Speaking about the awards, Bobby Sista from Population First said the organisation has been working to make the world recognise the fact that women are equal and entitled to the same rights as men. “We launched Laadli Media Awards in 2007. We wanted to change a centuries-old mindset. We wanted people to realise that women, who have been under-valued, require an equal status in society,” he said.
Inclusive understanding
Ms. Sharada, addressing the gathering, said: “It is heartening that issues related to transgenders are being [covered] in both print and electronic media. This indicates a more inclusive and broader understanding of gender issues. There is now more coverage being given to gender issues, with far more understanding and better and more just perspectives.”
This year's award winners include Sangeetha Neeraja (The New Indian Express, Chennai), Sheela Ramanathan (Bangalore Mirror, Bangalore), Sangamesh Menasinakai (The New Indian Express, Belgaum), Yeshodha Raju (Kannada Prabha), Aloysius D. Fernandez (Organ for Radical Change), R. Sambhan (Deshabhimani, Thiruvananthapuram), Reji R. Nair (Mathrubhumi, Kozhikode), Pon. Dhanasekaran (Pudhiya Thalaimurai, Tamil Nadu), K.S. Velayuthan (Kumudham), S. Vijayakumar (Dinamani), Eppa Shobha Rani (Vartha), Nirmala Kondepudi (Bhumika Streevada Patrika), Farida Raj (Siasat), Andal Priyadarshini (Doordarshan, Chennai), Potluri Rajesh (Vanitha TV), N. Vishwanath (HMTV), Ramu Suravajjula (apmediakaburlu. blogspot.com), Aarti Mohan (The Alternative, Bangalore), Swathi Shivanand (Offbeat e-zine, who was formerly with The Hindu, Bangalore).
ABN Andhra Jyoti, a Telugu news channel, won the award for its Save Girl Child campaign.
The Special Award for Contribution to Gender Sensitivity was given away to P.C. Ramakrishna, Chennai, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sarah Joseph, Kerala.
‘Long way to go'
Actor Tara Venugopal, who was the chief guest, said: “While I am happy that women have achieved so much in varied fields, I also realise we still have a long way to go.”
Parvathi Menon, Chief of Bureau, The Hindu; Dolly Thakore, National Coordinator, Laadli Media Awards; and Susheela Nair, State Coordinator of the awards, were present.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu
Staff Reporter
| Laadli Media Awards given away to 22 persons |
THE AWARDEES:Recipients of the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity with actor Tara in Bangalore on Friday.
This is the third edition of the awards that is supported by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and instituted by Population First, which is a non-governmental organisation working on population and health issues within the framework of women's rights and social development.
Twenty-two people, mostly journalists, were given the awards.
Changing the mindset
Speaking about the awards, Bobby Sista from Population First said the organisation has been working to make the world recognise the fact that women are equal and entitled to the same rights as men. “We launched Laadli Media Awards in 2007. We wanted to change a centuries-old mindset. We wanted people to realise that women, who have been under-valued, require an equal status in society,” he said.
Inclusive understanding
Ms. Sharada, addressing the gathering, said: “It is heartening that issues related to transgenders are being [covered] in both print and electronic media. This indicates a more inclusive and broader understanding of gender issues. There is now more coverage being given to gender issues, with far more understanding and better and more just perspectives.”
This year's award winners include Sangeetha Neeraja (The New Indian Express, Chennai), Sheela Ramanathan (Bangalore Mirror, Bangalore), Sangamesh Menasinakai (The New Indian Express, Belgaum), Yeshodha Raju (Kannada Prabha), Aloysius D. Fernandez (Organ for Radical Change), R. Sambhan (Deshabhimani, Thiruvananthapuram), Reji R. Nair (Mathrubhumi, Kozhikode), Pon. Dhanasekaran (Pudhiya Thalaimurai, Tamil Nadu), K.S. Velayuthan (Kumudham), S. Vijayakumar (Dinamani), Eppa Shobha Rani (Vartha), Nirmala Kondepudi (Bhumika Streevada Patrika), Farida Raj (Siasat), Andal Priyadarshini (Doordarshan, Chennai), Potluri Rajesh (Vanitha TV), N. Vishwanath (HMTV), Ramu Suravajjula (apmediakaburlu. blogspot.com), Aarti Mohan (The Alternative, Bangalore), Swathi Shivanand (Offbeat e-zine, who was formerly with The Hindu, Bangalore).
ABN Andhra Jyoti, a Telugu news channel, won the award for its Save Girl Child campaign.
The Special Award for Contribution to Gender Sensitivity was given away to P.C. Ramakrishna, Chennai, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sarah Joseph, Kerala.
‘Long way to go'
Actor Tara Venugopal, who was the chief guest, said: “While I am happy that women have achieved so much in varied fields, I also realise we still have a long way to go.”
Parvathi Menon, Chief of Bureau, The Hindu; Dolly Thakore, National Coordinator, Laadli Media Awards; and Susheela Nair, State Coordinator of the awards, were present.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu
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