#FemaleJournalistsFellowship
DHAKA, 02 January 2020: In 2019, the News Network with support from the European Union successfully implemented four months long (September – December 2019) fellowship on Human Rights in two districts – Rangpur and Jashore. A total of 40 young women journalists were awarded in the fellowship programme. Upon completion of their fellowships, the journalists were awarded with certificates in a formal ceremony held at Rangpur on 17th and at Jashore on 24th December 2019.
It was the first time in Bangladesh’s media history that such a kind of fellowship for young women on ‘Human Rights Journalism’ held in both the districts. Objectives of the programme were to encourage potential women to choose journalism as their professions and build their capacities to protect women’s and girls’ rights through journalism. Government officials highly appreciated the initiative to support the female journalists. Inspiring the fellows, they said, women journalists can play a bigger and effective role to empower the women through their works.Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Md. Asif Ahasan and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education & ICT) of Jashore district Shammi Islam distributed certificates among the fellows as Chief Guests with the News Network Editor Shahiduzzaman in the Chair. Local media publishers, editors, senior journalists, journalists’ union leaders and human rights activists attended the function. Local media well covered the certificated giving ceremony.
Local newspapers publishers and Editors attending the ceremony said, it’s a landmark initiative to develop more female journalists. “We are ready to welcome them in the profession,” they said. Journalists’ union leaders also expressed their satisfaction. They also believe that the fellowship has both short and long-term impact in the media. It will also help achieving gender equality in journalism profession. ##