Development Team

Paper No. : Women, Media and Films Module : Woman Owners and Editors Development Team Principal Investigator Prof. Sumita Parmar Allahabad University, Allahabad Paper Coordinator Prof. Sisir Basu, Banaras Hindu University,Varanasi Content Writer Ankit Kumar Singh Banaras Hindu University ,Varanasi Prof. Sisir Basu,BHU, Varanasi Content Reviewer BHU 1 Women, Media and Films Women’s Studies Woman Owners and Editors Description of Module Subject Name Women’s Studies Paper Name Women, Media and Films Module Name/Title Woman Owners and Editors Module Id Paper – 10, Module - 12 Pre-requisites The reader is expected to have the knowledge of media industry and how it works. Objectives To help readers learn about the rise of women in media over the years, to help them know about famous editors and owners of modern era, to help them understand the challenges female editors/owners face, to help them explain future prospects for woman editors and owners Keywords Woman editors, woman owners, glass ceiling, newspapers, media houses, beat, resident editor. 3. Woman owners and editors in media 1. Objectives After going through this module, you would be able to; • explain the rise of woman journalists across the world over the years; • understand the kind of challenges woman owners and editors face in running a media organization; • describe in detail the life and work of some of the famous female editors and owners of the country; • state the future prospects for woman editors and owners. 2. Introduction In the previous module, we read about jobs and wages of women working in media. 2 Women, Media and Films Women’s Studies Woman Owners and Editors In this module, we will take a sneak peek into the realm of woman owners and editors. Apart from getting introduced to some of the famous woman owners and editors of the modern times, we will learn about the challenges these powerful ladies face and also what it’s like to work with a woman editor/owner. In the next module, we will read about the kind of role conflicts woman face while working in media. 2.1 Overview Editors and owners are the people who set the agenda for a media organization’s way of functioning. However, a close look at the hierarchal structure of major newspapers and television channels in India shows that only a few women hold editorial positions and even a fewer women happen to be owners. There are several reasons behind this lack of adequate representation of woman force at the top of the pecking order in media. For long, journalism remained a man’s oyster in the country with only a few women from elite class joining the profession. Since the percentage of women working in media sector was low, there was not much scope for them to climb up the hierarchal ladder. The fact that women always kept their families above their careers in a patriarchal country like India also played a part in creating this glass ceiling. A number of female journalists saw their promising careers cut short by marriages and other family commitments. Since only a few women had a longer run in the profession, the number of female editors remained less as well. However, times have changed now and with more and more women taking up the career in media sectors and showing a willingness to give it the top priority, the prospect of a female becoming editor has increased as well. 3. The rise of women in media through years 3.1 Worldwide context In the early days of journalism, laws and customs prevented women from joining the profession. The beginning of the 19th century saw women staging protests to gain the right to work as journalists in North America and Europe. Jane Gry Swisshelm of New 3 Women, Media and Films Women’s Studies Woman Owners and Editors York was probably the first woman who made a mark in journalism. Nellie Bly and Margaret Fuller were also among the other notable female journalists of that era. Bly was, in particular, famous for her investigative reporting by going undercover. Another major hurdle that came female journalists’ way was that they were confined to covering soft beats like fashion, food, etc. Still, there were women who challenged this set up and went on to cover beats that were considered men’s domain. Ina Eloise Young of the US was one such trendsetter. Ina became the first female sports editor in 1907 and covered baseball, horse race and soccer for Trinidad Chronicle News in Colorado. A mention has to be made of Jennie Irene Mix here too as she edited a radio magazine in the 1920s (which was the first of its kind for a woman). Did you know? In America, women became editors and publishers as early as in the 18th century. Ann Franklin, wife of printer James Franklin and sister-in-law to scientist Benjamin Franklin, holds the distinction for being America’s first woman newspaper editor. Ann learned the trick of the trade from her husband, who ran ‘The Rhode Island Gazette’ from New York. Following her husband’s demise in 1735, she became the editor of the publication and won Yankee Quill Award in New England for her service to journalism. 3.2 Indian Context There is hardly any documentation of women’s involvement in Indian media. It is believed that Hemant Kumari Debi was the first known Hindi journalist. She was the publisher-cum-editor of Sugrahini - a woman’s magazine which began publishing from Allahabad in 1888. A year later, Hari Devi launched another journal for women - Bharti Bhagini- from Allahabad. Interesting facts Hemant Kumari Debi was the first known Hindi journalist. She was the publisher-cum-editor of Sugrahini- a woman’s magazine which began publishing from Allahabad in 1888. 4 Women, Media and Films Women’s Studies Woman Owners and Editors In the early days of press in India, women edited only those journals which focused on subjects like sewing, cooking and housekeeping. Most of the women, who edited/owned these journals, came from affluent families and actively participated in various religious and social movements. Interesting facts Homi Vyaravalla, who joined the Illustrated Weekly in Mumbai in the 1930s, was probably the first female journalist on the staff of a major English newspaper. She later became the country’s first female photographer. In English press, women appeared as columnists and writers here and there. Homi Vyaravalla, who joined the Illustrated Weekly in Mumbai in the 1930s, was probably the first female journalist on the staff of a major English newspaper. She later became the country’s first female photographer. Post independence, the number of women entering journalism increased and so did the number of women holding top positions. Gulshan Erwing edited Eve’s Weekly in Mumbai while Frene Talyarkhan became the first woman to edit two magazines - Trend and Flair. Frene also served as the first female editor of Femina. The mid-1970s saw a surge in the number of females joining journalism. Several factors were behind this surge. The Indian press had become more vigilant post the traumatic experience of emergency and needed fresh faces. The growing women’s movements across the world had an impact on the psyche of Indian women as well. Suddenly, educated women of the country saw journalism as a platform to voice their opinions and bring a change. Some of the famous journalists, who held top positions in media houses in this era, include Seema Mustafa, Anita Pratap, Radhika Ranaseshan, Ritu Sarin, Shiraz Sidhe, Tavleen Singh, Kalpana Sharma, Malini Chatterjee, etc. 5 Women, Media and Films Women’s Studies Woman Owners and Editors With the arrival of satellite television channels in the 1990s, female journalists got an opportunity to showcase their talent on the screen too. In this era, the number of women holding editorial positions increased both in print and electronic media. 4. Famous woman editors and owners of modern era 4.1 Owners Shobhana Bhartia At present, Shobhana Bhartia is the only female owner of a major media house in India. She heads one of the country’s leading media houses, Hindustan Times Group. Under her leadership, both the publications of the house - Hindustan in Hindi and Hindustan Times (HT) in English- have made steady progress. Daughter of industrialist KK Birla, Bhartia joined HT as the chief executive in 1986. The 58-year old woman is credited with the transformation of HT from a bland daily to a bright newspaper. Shobhana Bhartia: The only female owner of a major media house at present. (Photo source- http://www.google.ae/imgres?imgurl=http://forbesindia.com/media/images/2009/Dec/img_17022_s hobhana_bhartia_ht_280x210_280x210.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forbesindia.com/specialreport/person- of-the-year- 09/1002/1&h=210&w=280&tbnid=Rp8WWMSoDtSbuM:&zoom=1&docid=Gfly7dNGne0kvM&ei=ESC hVYq_AYX5UsqYoaAD&tbm=isch&ved=0CDgQMygFMAU) 6 Women, Media and Films Women’s Studies Woman Owners and Editors Madhu Purie Trehan Madhu Trehan is the founding editor of one of India’s most popular news magazines, India Today. After studying in the US and working with the United Nations, Madhu came back to India in 1975 and started Indian Today with her father VV Purie. Post marriage, though, she handed over the mantle of India Today to her brother, Arun Purie. She later anchored Newstrack - India’s first video magazine. Madhu Purie Trehan: The founder editor of India Today. (Photo source- http://www.google.ae/imgres?imgurl=https://indologygoa.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/madhu- trehan.jpg%253Fw%253D450&imgrefurl=https://indologygoa.wordpress.com/category/incredible- indian/&h=250&w=300&tbnid=hxotfyBP- wBwKM:&zoom=1&docid=wTx2UXr2kfpdYM&ei=eiChVcTWKIGxUpeTgPgD&tbm=isch&ved=0CCEQM ygEMAQ) 4.2 Editors Mrinal Pande Mrinal Pande is one of the most celebrated female journalists of India.

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