Promoting gender equality in and through media is essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is also crucial to the attainment and enjoyment of equal rights of women, men, girls and boys. This message was reinstated during the presentation from UNESCO at the last day of Teaching Gender in Journalism and Media Studies organized by the Department of Communication Studies, Universitas Indonesia on 30 October 2019. In this workshop, academics from around the world gathered and shared their cross-cultural experience in teaching gender, journalism and media.
Advisor for Communication and Information from UNESCO Office Jakarta, Dr. Ming-Kuok Lim introduced and presented two UNESCO publications entitled “Setting the gender agenda for communication policy – new proposals from Global Alliance for Media and Gender (GAMAG)”, and “Gender, media and ICTs – new approaches for research, education and training”. Among the topics covered by the two books are the gender inequality in the structures within media and internet companies especially at the decision-making level. Also highlighted are the lack ofequal gender representation in media content and the rights of women media workers including protection from any form of violence and abuse.
To achieve gender equality in and through media, we have still got a long way to go. It is crucial to ensure equal opportunity and representation of women and men at the decision-making level within the structure of media companies, gender equal supportive policy and environment to allow equal opportunities, and protection of the rights of women media workers from any form of harassment and abuse. These issues are assessed in Setting the gender agenda for communication policy – new proposals from Global Alliance for Media and Gender (GAMAG).
Good journalism education also encompasses strong practice of ethical and professional journalism to support full potential of media to ensure open democracy and dialogue as well as sustainable development goals and gender equality. This is what the Gender, Media and ICTs publication highlights in the discussion. The publication also offers a range of curriculum and training options in gender equality for further adoption and adaptation by universities.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 specifically aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030, including in and through the media. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Photos: © Department of Communication, Universitas Indonesia