Executing a series of Media Literacy Programs targeting women and adolescents

ASMITA’s media literacy program aims to make the country’s media more gender sensitive, democratic and accountable to the people. The participants in such programs are also encouraged to set up their own media in their own locality.

ASMITA completed a nationwide research Women and Media: A Study of the Media Situation in Nepal in Relation to Women in 2003. The findings of the research reveal the pattern of the relationship/interaction between women and media. It shows that media agencies in the country are producing their products without considering the need and requirements of women consumers. Women media users are critical of such products, but they don’t find ways to express their dissatisfaction. Many women recognize the significance of media in their everyday life and seek for the ways to utilize the media in bringing change in their condition. Such findings of the study instigated to execute the activity related to media literacy programs for women. It is expected that the projects designed under the activity would develop a system of interaction between media agencies/personnel and women media consumers.

ASMITA had executed the media literacy project, as an experimental program, in two districts Rupandehi and Morang in 2006. Under this project, the organization developed a training manual for Women Media Volunteers who took charge of organizing women media audiences, conducting discussion programs and

executing media monitoring. Similarly, a booklet was also published on how to use the media in everyday life. Later, the media literacy program was launched in other 12 districts– Sunsari and Banke (2008), and Ilam, Jhapa, Kavrepalanchok, Parsa, Baglung, Kapilbastu, Dang, Surkhet, Dadeldhura & Kanchanpur (August 2008 to July 2009). The prgram was widely appreciated in all these districts to improve the media content from gender perspective. The organization would like to continue this program implementing it throughout the country.