Development Program for Women Journalists

Period: September 2011- August 2012
Funded by: The American Center, Dhaka

The project objectives were to encourage young women to choose journalism as their career and promote gender equality in the field of journalism in Bangladesh. The 12-month project awarded 20 young women graduates for a nine-month fellowship on practical journalism. Major activities of the project included (i) three-month in-house training; (ii) three-month internship and (iii) three-month for writing assignments. A group of senior journalists, trainers and experts conducted the in-house training courses. The training included; techniques of information gathering; event coverage; report writing skills; techniques of investigative reporting/in-depth/news-feature writing; copy editing and news analysis. After completion of in-hour training fellows were attached to mainstream print and electronic media for a three-month internship. During the assignment period fellows produced about 60 in-depth reports on various issues and those were published in media with due credit.

In a Certificate Giving Ceremony organised on June 3, 2012 at the American Center, Dhaka US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena distributes certificates among the fellows. Enayetullah Khan, Managing Director and Chief Editor of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), Syed Fahim Munaim, Chief Editor and CEO of Maasranga TV and Shahiduzzaman, Editor and CEO of News Network were present in the occasion.