Male scribes sullying Bihar's image: Rabri Devi

PATNA, AUG. 18. The Bihar Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi, today alleged that male journalists were reporting the State's affairs in a `biased manner.'

Inaugurating an inter-State women journalists conference organised by the All-Bihar Women Journalists Forum here to discuss the problems being faced by women scribes in Bihar and Jharkhand, Mrs. Rabri Devi claimed that male journalists were not presenting a true picture of the State and were more interested in sullying its image outside.

``On the contrary, women scribes have a better sense of responsibility and are more geared up to discharge their duties in an unbiased manner,'' the Chief Minister said. She said the newly-constituted State Women's Commission would have a woman journalist as a representative.

``The role of women journalists in the State is commendable and they should work towards improving the image of the State,'' Mrs. Rabri Devi said.

Arguing that the media in the country was not free, the RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, said journalists were guided by owners of publishing houses who were inclined to use it for their own advantage.

On behalf of the State Government Mr. Yadav promised to set up a Press Club exclusively for women journalists. He said more women should join journalism as their present number was negligible.

The Resident Editor of `Hindustan Times' in Lucknow, Ms. Sunita Aron, the Deputy Editor of `The Hindu,' Ms. Kalpana Sharma and freelance journalist and the writer of `Making News', Ms. Ammu Joseph, attended the conference.

The ABWJF Secretary, Ms. Nivedita said it would be the first opportunity for women journalists of Bihar and Jharkhand to interact and discuss their common problems.

Women scribes from several villages, small towns and cities spoke about their working conditions besides deliberating on the issue of gender discrimination in journalism, media projection of the women's image and the danger of globalisation posed before journalism.

- UNI

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