The Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) organised a day-long workshop for journalists in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday to promote more responsible and gender-sensitive practices in news reporting.
The workshop focused on using gender-sensitive language, identifying and challenging stereotypes, and ensuring dignified representation of people in news reports, with reference to PIB’s Gender Sensitivity in Journalism manual.
Around 35 journalists from different media outlets in Cox’s Bazar took part in the workshop, held at the Cox’s Bazar Arunoday auditorium.
The Youth for Equality project, jointly implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust and funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands, organised the workshop.
PIB director general Faruk Wasif attended the programme as the chief guest.
Highlighting women’s contributions to Bangladesh’s history and intellectual traditions, he said that women had also made significant contributions to Islamic scholarship and education.
“Various forms of discrimination and stereotypes have developed in society over time,” he said.
He stressed that journalism should not reinforce such stereotypes but should instead properly portray people’s roles, contributions and dignity.
Plan International Bangladesh media specialist Saiyed Md Tafhim said the issue should not be viewed or presented as a matter of “women versus men”.
“We do not want to see or present this session as women versus men. We want to look at gender roles and perspectives from the standpoint of people, where there is mutual respect,” he said.
Workshop trainer and PIB training coordinator Jilhaz Uddin Nipun discussed various aspects of language and presentation in journalism.
“Gender-sensitive journalism is not a separate issue; it is part of responsible and ethical journalism. The words used in a report, its headline and photographs, and whose voice is given importance — every decision influences the media’s approach towards people,” he said.
Cox’s Bazar Press Club president Mahbubur Rahman, general secretary Momtaz Uddin Bahari, Cox’s Bazar Journalists Union president Nurul Islam Helali, general secretary SM Zafar and joint general secretary Syed Alam also spoke at the programme.
The speakers stressed the need for regular district-level training programmes to provide journalists with training opportunities on artificial intelligence, fact-based journalism, and other contemporary issues.
They said continued initiatives of this kind could play an important role in enhancing the professional skills and knowledge of journalists working at the grassroots and district levels.
During the workshop, participants analysed real news reports and examples. They took part in exercises on using gender-sensitive language, identifying harmful stereotypes, and adopting more inclusive and humane approaches to news presentation.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk
Photo: Courtesy
