The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 4, 2024
Odisha Women in Media (OWM) marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its inaugural foundation day at a city hotel, here on Monday. The event, graced by distinguished guests Patricia Mukhim and Deepa Adhikari, founder-director of Piplika, showcased the collective’s commitment to amplifying the voices of women in journalism and communications across the region.
With a thematic focus on ‘Unheard Voices: Stories from the Grassroots,’ the event attracted eminent figures including Sulochana Das, Mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, and Minati Behera, Chairperson of the State Commission for Women, who attended as Chief Guests. Kasturi Ray, President of OWM, outlined the agenda for the programme, setting a visionary path for the collective’s future endeavours.
Mayor Sulochana Das, a journalist-turned-politician, delivered an inspiring address urging OWM members to pursue their passion relentlessly. Sharing her personal journey, she reflected on the challenges and triumphs of reporting and emphasized the importance of empathy in understanding the plight of communities.
Minati Behera underscored the vital role of women in media in advocating for gender equality and social justice. She highlighted the reduction in women-related cases since her tenure began and encouraged women journalists to continue amplifying marginalized voices through their work.
Patricia Mukhim and Deepa Adhikari emphasized the significance of giving voice to grassroots communities through journalism.
Mukhim, also the editor of The Shillong Times, emphasized the importance of solidarity among women journalists and the need to support each other in their endeavours.
Adhikari stressed the importance of listening skills in journalism, particularly in amplifying unheard voices from marginalized communities. She urged journalists to confront intellectual marginalization and actively seek out stories that challenge mainstream narratives.
OWM honored excellence in Odia and English journalism by presenting awards to Satarupa Samantray of Argus TV (Odia) and Aishwarya Mohanty, a freelance journalist (English).
The ceremony, attended by around 170 OWM members, served as a testament to the collective’s commitment to promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in media representation.
