Female’s Participation in Electronic and Print Media: Prospects and Challenges in Bangladesh

Abstract

<i>Introduction:</i> Female’s participation in journalism, both Electronic and Print Media in Bangladesh, has been increased in recent years and the majority of them leave the field due to a variety of challenges. Stereotypical views, unequal treatment, harassment by male colleagues, and job instability were among the reasons given by female journalists for leaving the field.<i> Objectives</i>: The aim of this study wasto determine the prospects and challenges of female’s participation in Electronic and Print media in Bangladesh.<i> Methodology: </i>This was a prospective cross sectionalsurvey based study, conducted across Bangladesh during August, 2020 to August, 2021. <i>Results: </i>In this study, the prospects and challenges of female journalism were found almost similar in both the media, but conducive working hours, 17 (56.67%) in Print Media vs 26 (86.67%) in Electronic Media, institutional day care-centre for their children, 30 (100%) in Electronic Media vs 7 (23.33%) in Print Media, fear for physical security, 15 (50%) for Print Media and 7 (23.33%) in Electronic Media, sexual harassment, 13 (56.67%) in Print Medias 5 (16.67) in Electronic Media, and digital data safety training 9 (3.33%) in Print Media vs 22 (73.33%) in Electronic Media which were found statistically significant (p<0.05) among the female journalists of Electronic and Print Media of Bangladesh. <i>Conclusion: </i>The female journalists of both Print and Electronic media in Bangladesh enjoy almost similar facilities and face almost similar challenges but the major difference noted in having day-care centre in their office for their children, digital data safety training, sexual harassment, physical security and conducive working hours. These significant issues are needed to be addressed for the promotion of female’s participation in the field of journalism in Bangladesh.