Amidst internet shutdowns and growing curtailment of the freedom of the press, KPC was a genial space where women scribes had the rare chance to network with and learn from seniors in their profession.
The Wire's Sumedha Pal speaks to journalists Gowhar Geelani and Shahana Butt about the closure of the Kashmir Press Club and the case filed against young journalist Sajad Gul.
KU’s MERC Celebrates International Women’s Day
Webinar on International Women’s Day organized by the Media Education Research Centre (MERC), Kashmir University
An official handout said that prominent female media professionals, Anuradha Bhasin, Rukhsana Jabeen, Dr Surbhi Dahiya and Shahana Butt graced the occasion and shared their experiences as media professionals
Listing the challenges women in media face while discharging their duties, Executive Editor of The Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin discussed the changing face of journalism particularly in the context of Jammu and Kashmir. “The stereotyping and conflict have pushed women out of newsrooms”, she remarked.
“However, the arrival of newly trained professionals is helping women to reclaim their space in the newsrooms”, she added.
Kashmir’s Women Chroniclers
Durdana Bhat
Journalists hold a protest outside the office of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations against the assault on two on their colleagues. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
When Afsana Rashid, started her career as a journalist way back in 2002, as a reporter for
Kashmir Images, there were hardly any women journalists in Kashmir.
“I was given due space in all the news organizations I worked with,” said Afsana, currently working as an assistant professor at the Media Education Research Centre (MERC), Kashmir University. “As an individual, you have to not only create a space for yourself but you have to maintain that space as well”