Christina Meetoo

On Media, Society and Mauritius

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Round Table on Gender – Presentation on Gender and Media

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Here are the slides that I used today for the Round Table on Gender Equality (Egalite Zom-Fam) which was organised by the Ministy of Gender at the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium:

RoundTable-Gender-Media-7March2015-chan-meetoo

Also a gallery of images which I showed during the session:

Presentation on Ethical Reporting on Gender-Based Violence

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Here are the slides (which I have expanded) used for the presentation on Wednesday 9th April about Ethical Reporting on Gender-Based Violence at the University of Mauritius.

For information, the workshop was organised by the Ministry of Gender and aimed at helping aspiring journalists to understand the issues related to GBV, the work being done to support victims/survivors of GBV and how to report on GBV in an ethical manner.

Les courts métrages mauriciens

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Voici une copie de la présentation que j’ai faite ce matin lors du congrès du CIEF à Grand-Baie dans la session sur le cinéma.

La communication s’intitule ‘Le court métrage de fiction dans la sphère médiatique mauricienne’.

Courts-métrages-mauriciens-Chan-Meetoo

Launch of Book ‘Ethical Journalism and Gender-Sensitive Reporting’ and ‘A Gender Code of Ethics for the Media’

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Front-cover

The University of Mauritius
Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities
in collaboration with UNESCO-IPDC

requests the pleasure of your company at the

Launching Ceremony
of the book ‘Ethical Journalism and Gender-Sensitive Reporting’
and of A Gender Code of Ethics for the Media

on Monday 10th June 2013 at 13 00 hrs at the R. Burrenchobay Lecture Theatre (RBLT), University of Mauritius

Guests are kindly requested to be seated by 12 50 hrs
RSVP: or

Please note that a free copy of the book (including the code) will be subsequently distributed to all journalists and media houses. A registration list will have to be completed on the day of the launching.

Feel free to share this invitation

Back-cover

Programme

13.00 Welcome Remarks by Mrs Christina Chan-Meetoo, editor and convenor
13.05 Assoc. Prof. Jocelyn Chan Low, Dean, FSSH
13.10 Prof Soodursun Jugessur, GOSK, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council
13.20 Hon. Dr R. Jeetah, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research & Technology
13.35 Hon (Mrs.) M. F. M. Martin, Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare.
13.50 Launching of the book by Hon. Jeetah and of the code by Hon. Martin
13.55 Refreshments
Registration of journalists for copies of books

About the Authors

Table of Content

A Gender Code of Ethics for the Media

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As a follow up to our October 2012 workshop on gender-sensitive reporting which was sponsored by UNESCO, we have been asked to propose a Gender Code of Ethics for the Media. Before finalising, we are seeking views and suggestions on the draft proposal  You can either comment here or send an email to  or . We will soon launch a book as a follow up to the workshop on ethics in journalism and the workshop on gender-sensitive reporting. It will be made available freely to all journalists and media houses and will be an interesting follow-up to Robertson’s preliminary report.
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Proposed Gender Code of Ethics for the Media
Gender equality is an integral part of freedom of expression as all gender categories have the right to be heard and seen in the public sphere as full-fledge citizens participating in a democratic society. Gender balance is thus important in news reporting. Equally important is the need to challenge prevailing gender stereotypes.

Journalists endeavour to recognise the diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, ability, sexuality, age and class. They shall strive to eliminate discrimination on the basis of gender from their respective publication and pledge to put more effort to provide for more balance, fairness and accuracy in their reports. They shall strive to be inclusive by seeking a diversity of voices rather than rely solely on usual male dominant sources.

Journalists and media houses shall NOT:

  • use discriminatory or sexist language. In case they are citing such language as used by the subjects of their articles, they shall use appropriate quotation marks and reporting verbs while taking care not to promote or support the person quoted.
  • depict women in general as inferior, secondary class citizens.
  • resort to gender stereotyping of roles (e.g. loving, caring women, tough men, effeminate gays, masculinised lesbians, etc.).
  • have recourse to the commoditisation of the female body and gratuitous sexualised and eroticised views of women who are portrayed in the news.
  • pander to lurid curiosity.
  • publish the identity (name, picture) of rape victims and victims of sexual violence and other sexual offences without informed consent. They shall take all precautions to protect the identity of such victims so that the latter are not subjected to stigmatisation and further trauma.
  • glamourise violence against women and sexual minorities such as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender (LGBT).
  • advocate hatred based on gender, nor incite to cause harm.
  • encourage misogyny and the reinforcement of patriarchy.

In the workplace, media houses shall allow journalists to work across a diversity of beats, irrespective of gender category. They shall ensure that selection, recruitment, career pathing, capacity building, training, fast tracking and promotion are devoid of gender discrimination and that there is no tolerance for sexual harassment in the workplace. They shall encourage friendly work practices and mutual respect between men and women. Media houses shall encourage the active pursuit of knowledge in gender issues and incorporate same in their training programmes. They shall develop policies to ensure gender balance in coverage and gender equality in the workplace.

This Gender Code of Ethics should be read in line with any General Code of Ethics, whether developed by media houses, media associations or regulators.