ONGOING PROJECTS

1)  Support to Women in Journalism (2006-2008)
2)  Helpline for Media Professionals (2005-2007)
3)  Training Women for Leadership in Bangladesh Media (2005-2006)
4)  Equity in the News: Promoting Human Rights through Media in Bangladesh
5) Media Access and Education for Human Rights: Bangladesh

SUPPORT TO WOMEN IN JOURNALISM (2006-2008)
supported by DANIDA/The Embassy of Denmark, Dhaka

Title of Project

Support to women in journalism

Project location

Dhaka and 5 other divisional towns

Objectives
Creation of a critical mass of journalists aware of gender equality issues in the country with adequate competence and understanding

Specific Objective:

  • Capacity building of female journalists
  • Creation of an enabling environment for female journalists

Target group and beneficiaries
Aspiring female journalists from Dhaka as well as other divisional towns.

Project activity and implementation methodology
The organisation will perform the following activities:

  • Meet the Press

      This has been an ongoing activity of the organisation, which has proved to be quite successful. In this program, dignitaries from both home and abroad including diplomats meet face to face with the women journalists. The event is a monthly one and is preceded by a briefing and orientation session and followed by lunch where the participants get more opportunity to practice professionalism in a more comfortable way. There will be 20 such sessions during the project period.

  • Thematic orientation

      Orientation of both men and women journalists on issues of current concerns and their implications on gender equality will be provided to the direct beneficiaries. The topics covered are: Human rights and women’s rights, gender and good governance, and gender equality in the national context. Covering three topics, there will be a package orientation of three days. The total number of such orientations will be 16 during the project period dividing it into two broad categories: Dhaka and other divisional towns. There will be 6 sessions in Dhaka and 2 in each divisional town bringing the total to 10.
Although the primary objective of this orientation is to provide information on gender issues to female journalists, but it will also bring in some male journalists in order to create the critical mass in the practical life. The proportion of participants will be 60% female and the rest male. 

  • Newsletter

      There will be a quarterly newsletter published under the project covering the achievements, issues faced by female journalists, gender based violence or incidence of discrimination, challenges etc. This will also be an effort to keep female journalists updated with events and emerging issues in development and gender. This will be a linkage of all female journalists who will receive it on a regular basis.

  • Directory of women journalists

      This directory will contain names, address and other pertinent information in brief on all women journalists in the country. This will also contain information on NGOs/GoB agencies working in the field of media and journalism in the country.

  • Fellowship for women journalists

      Fellowship to 10 female journalists from both Dhaka and outside the capital for 6 months. These interns will be selected based on their performance during the orientation sessions. During the internships these female journalists will be linked with reputed national dailies under the agreement that they will be absorbed in the payroll of these newspapers after completion of their internships.

Expected results

  • Female journalists are confident in facing the dignitaries and handling press coverage
  • Increased awareness of target group in understanding of gender equality issues at both national and international levels
  • Female journalists are more organized in handling their professional barriers through networking and information.
  • Positive image of women journalists among the civil society
  • Improved balance between male female ratio of active journalists

Indicators of success

  • Dignitaries are eager to attend female journalists and express their opinions
  • Target training programs are held regularly with a participation of 60% female and 40 % male media professionals
  • 100% interns are absorbed by regular employers in the media sector
  • Qualitative coverage of gender equality issue in the press by both male and female professionals

 

HELPLINE FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS (2005-2007)
supported by High Commission of Canada, Dhaka

Title of the Project

Helpline for Media Professionals

Project Implementing Agency

Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) will be the project implementing agency and will sign contract with the donor and will be fully accountable to them. BCDJC will also be responsible to get government approval from the NGO Affairs Bureau.
However one of the objectives and strategies of this project would be to gradually develop an Alliance for Press Freedom in Bangladesh participated by committed organisations with interest and relevance in the field of press freedom and support to harassed journalists. BCDJC has plans to join hands and form the Alliance as soon as possible and develop a bondage of partnership through continuous collective actions. 

Project Area

The project will be based in Dhaka and its beneficiaries will come from whole Bangladesh.

Project Period

2 years
May 2004 to April 2006

Target Group

  • Journalists working for local, regional, national and foreign media and with threat or actual harassment/trouble/danger from government, police, cadre of political party, underworld don, mafia or whoever is the perpetrator for any of the following reasons:
  • Published Report/Article/Editorial/Column/Picture
  • Journalistic work like investigation, case-study
  • Activity for press freedom and in protecting security about any source of information/news will be covered as our target group and their immediate family/dependants would also be covered in the target group if deemed deserving by BCDJC and/or the EC of the Alliance.
  • Enabling/favourable legal and social environment for a free and vibrant newsmedia of Bangladesh. The advocacy to achieve that would need addressing and engaging all stakeholders, government and media professionals.

Development Objective

The respect for human rights of women and men, democratic participation of all citizens in the political processes and good governance promoted through development of a pluralistic, independent and professional media sector.

Programme Objective

Broadly the immediate objective of this project is to strengthen the security of journalists in society and enhance co-operation between media sector initiatives and actors. The specific objectives are:

  • Establish countrywide emergency assistance (legal, media and financial) to journalists who have become victims of harassment as a consequence of their professional journalistic activities;
  • Introduce awareness raising & advocacy activities, and striving for legal reforms & access to information with an aim to drawing attention to the problem of harassment of journalists, and strengthening security of journalists in Bangladesh society through mobilising relevant government functions
  • Formation of an Alliance for Press Freedom in Bangladesh through a partnership of collective implementation in various activities of mutual interest and in areas of common understanding.

Outputs

A.  About 450 unit of reports of various incidents and/or follow-up acts recorded in 2 years;
B.   50 individuals provided service of emergency nature a unit cost of Tk. 10,000/- in 2 years;
C.   8 issues of newsletter published, each of 1,000 copies, in 2 years time;
D.   A website developed and updated regularly;
E.    2 Annual Reports titled “State of Press Freedom in Bangladesh” published; each 1,000 copies.
F.    2 Annual Conferences, orientation and sharing of experience held with the participation of all district correspondents and a number of harassed journalists from different regions.
G.   About 30 tortured journalists get medical treatment and rehabilitation support/services.
H.   40 news prepared and published on issues related to Press Freedom, Freedom of Expression and Opinion and on harassment of journalists.
I.    About 27 harassed journalists get legal assistance at district courts, High Court or the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
J.    International Press Freedom Day and Media Democracy Days observed by the alliance, AFP,B;
K.   7 Advocacy Seminars/Workshop/Roundtable/Research Journal organised/produced in 2 years participated by all stake holders;
L.    6 Research/Case-Studies/Detail Fact finding done and/or Research Journal produced in 2 years.
M.   Four posters published with any theme related to freedom of expression/opinion/press and/or harassment of media professionals.
N.   Alliance for Press Freedom in Bangladesh, (APF,B) constituted and strengthened.

 

TRAINING WOMEN FOR LEADERSHIP IN BANGLADESH MEDIA (2005-2006)
supported by US State Department

Project title

Training Women for Leadership in Bangladesh Media.

The project for 2004-2006 is focused on helping women journalists and media professionals in Bangladesh to advance their careers to positions of responsibility and management. Our partner in this project is the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC).

The project has six major goals:

  • Enlarge the potential base of female media leaders in Bangladesh by providing management and advanced skills training to women interested in leadership.
  • Encourage a select group of female Bangladeshi journalists and media professionals with high management potential to observe American print and broadcast media and have a quality internship experience in a major American media market.
  • Encourage a support network for women with management potential by creating a mentoring program using mentors from both the United States and Bangladesh.
  • Sensitize the current media leadership in Bangladesh to the opportunities for their outlets that women in positions of responsibility can create.
  • Establish an ongoing program of media management training through the Bangladesh Centre for Development Journalism and Communication and the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University.
  • Support the American Center staff in Dhaka in any media-related initiatives they undertake.

Activities

The project objectives will be achieved over a three-year period (June 2004-May 2007).  Each year, ASU will conduct multiple workshops in Bangladesh to elevate the management skills of women journalists and media professionals.  The original content will be repeated during the second and third year to reach a new group of potential leaders with new content being added in years two and three for advanced training.   A select group of participants from workshops held during the first two years who show the greatest management potential will be invited to the United States for further exposure to the American system of media and an opportunity to meet successful managers in a variety of settings.  In addition to the workshops on management, ASU faculty will also conduct specialized workshops in subject areas recommended by the post and its Bangladeshi partner, the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication.  The following is a detailed description of the calendar of activities.

Follow-Up Activities

The ASU project leaders will continue to work with the BCDJC in its efforts to improve the quality of journalism in Bangladesh and enhance the role of women.  We will partner with BCDJC to track the career path of every workshop participant for a ten-year period to determine whether or not they entered management and how far they advanced.  We hope to do interviews with participants at the end of the ten-year period to gauge their attitudes about the workplace and the advancement of women.
The BCDJC will do a series of follow-up surveys to its original study on the status of women in media in Bangladesh. This longitudinal approach should help document the upward mobility of female journalists and media professionals.
We will maintain the Listserv for participants and continue to direct them to new sources of information that will boost their careers. Most importantly, we will track the mentoring program and encourage its continuation. While there is bound to me significant attrition in a program of this type, we hope to build as many long-term relationships as possible.
We will also continue to work with the new private broadcast media in Bangladesh to enhance its management structure and help them with any training needs they may have.  By having such an outstanding partner in the Bangladesh Center for Development, Journalism and Communication, we are optimistic about a long-term relationship that can make a positive difference in the quality of journalism in Bangladesh.

EQUITY IN THE NEWS: PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH MEDIA IN BANGLADESH
supported by European Commission

Duration

24 months

Summary of the action

The project’s aim is to promote and increase society’s understanding of the human rights of the most vulnerable in Bangladesh by improving media reporting of their issues. It addresses the priorities the EIDHR Priority A “Fostering a Culture of Human Rights”, specifically “initiatives promoting a culture of human rights, with a particular focus on promoting the rights of vulnerable and marginalised groups, particularly women and children” and “to promote advocacy activities for workers’ rights”. It also indirectly supports the priority of “support activities to enhance access to justice for vulnerable groups” in that it gives the most vulnerable in society a voice (through media) which will enhance their access to justice. The applicant is the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC), an NGO focusing on the overall development of journalism in Bangladesh. Partnered with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries, and working with local journalists’ organisations on the ground, such as Bangladesh including the Bangladesh Media Watch; Bangladesh Rights Forum; Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF); and Dhaka Reporters Unity. The project will run over 24 months and will have activities in both Dhaka and the regional areas.

Objective

Overall objective(s): This project aims to achieve an improved respect for human rights (including freedom of expression) in Bangladesh, especially with regard to minority and vulnerable groups.  Additionally this project aims to strengthen civil society and create a society more tolerant of diversity, with improved rights for workers.
Specific objective: To promote understanding of the human rights of the most vulnerable in Bangladesh by improving media reporting of human rights, diversity, gender, children and minorities; to improve the position of women journalists in the media and within journalists' organisations; and to improve unity between Bangladesh journalist organisations leading to an improved capacity to campaign for workers' rights.

Main activities

  • A project office will be established in Bangladesh from where all activities will be co-ordinated. It will be staffed by a project co-ordinator and project administrator. A cross-organisational review committee of Bangladeshi journalists and editors will also be created to oversee the implementation of the program and its effectiveness.
  • A handbook on reporting human rights will be published and 1000 copies distributed amongst the Bangladeshi media. The handbook will focus on the reporting of women, children and minority groups. The handbook will be based on findings from extensive in-country research on the Bangladeshi media. It will be available in English and Bangla.
  • A training module in English and Bangla will be developed to support the handbook. This will be a two-day training session on human rights reporting with a focus on women, children and minority rights.
  • A four-day Train the Trainer program will be conducted for 15 local journalists by a seasoned IFJ expert trainer and will equip the local journalists with the skills to deliver the training module on reporting human rights to their journalist peers.
  • Four two-day Human Rights Reporting training workshops.
  • A two-day gender equity summit will also be organised focusing on how women and children are represented in the media and women’s representation within the industry with the adoption of a gender equity charter by media organisations and the adoption of a gender equity strategy and action plan by journalists’ organisations.
  • A two-day national meeting in Dhaka on Human Rights and Media will be conducted, including training on media rights monitoring for journalists organisations, and the adoption of a Code of Practice on reporting human rights, particularly women and children’s rights.
  • Three newsletters focusing on best practice human rights reporting in Bangladesh will be produced.

Estimated results

  • Result 1 Improved access for journalists to resources in local language promoting best practice reporting on human rights.
  • Result 2 Improved status of women in media and journalists' organisations and improved reporting on women.
  • Result 3 National agreed and co-ordinated approach of key opinion makers and media in Bangladesh on reporting human rights issues.
  • Result 4 Improved capacity of journalists’ organisations to conduct media training in human rights, gender and child rights issues.
  • Result 5 Improved reporting on human rights, gender and child rights issues.
  • Result 6 Improved monitoring of human rights abuses in media.
  • Result 7 Increased unity between journalists' organisations in Bangladesh through regular and sustained networks/meetings.

MEDIA ACCESS AND EDUCATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: BANGLADESH
supported by European Commission

Duration

18 months

Summary of the action

Relief International (RI) and the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) have partnered to address priority area A, “Fostering a Culture of Human Rights”. This proposal is designed to educate the public about the role of journalism in safeguarding and promoting human rights, and to increase access of marginalised groups, such as the rural, poor, women, and members of minorities, to media. RI brings to the effort its experience in project management and expertise in the education, technology, and human rights sectors. BCDJC contributes its comprehensive understanding of the relationship between journalism and human rights in Bangladesh, and its expertise in media professional development, education, and human rights.

Objective

Overall objective(s): To promote access to media as a means of protecting human rights in Bangladesh by enhancing access to media by professionals, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the general public, allowing them to bring human rights issues to public attention.
Specific objectives:

  • Establish a formal linkage between rural reporters and centralised news outlets to achieve greater representation of human rights issues in more remote areas.
  • Introduce students to the role of journalism, freedom of speech and right to information in maintaining accountability in society; make related localised materials freely available for distribution.
  • Provide media skills instruction for students, CSOs, and individuals concerned with human rights issues.
  • Develop new strategies to maximise utility of information and communication technologies (ICTs) available in Bangladesh for the purpose of human rights reporting.
  • Deploy appropriate new technologies to allow individuals with limited resources to reach a wider audience with regard to human rights issues.

Main activities

1. Link upazila-level reporters to more central media outlets.
2. Implement school lesson plans on Journalism and Human Rights.
3. Develop and implement telecentre workshops on journalism and human rights.
4. Implement a Student Journalism and Human Rights Camp.
5. Localise internet resources permitting Bangla-language media access by human rights advocates.
6. Establish a voice- and fax- to internet gateway as a bridging technology for Bangladeshi human rights advocates.

Estimated results

1. Greater and more timely recognition of human rights issues in remote locations.
2. Stronger rural reporting capacity.
3. Greater understanding of the relationship between freedom of speech and protection of human rights.
4. Increased number of students interested in media careers.
5. Greater use of ICTs, including new modalities, to promote human rights issues.