KATHMANDU, July 29: Media Advocacy Group (MAG) organized a-three-day training on livelihood for women journalists from Wednesday to Thursday at Bhaktapur. Supported by FES (Friedrich Ebert Stiftung) Nepal, altogether 26 women from print, radio, online and TV journalism from 15 districts across Nepal participated in the training.

Divided into many sessions, the training aimed at reflecting the livelihood opportunities for the economic empowerment of women journalist. President of MAG, Babita Basnet, held an introductory session highlighting the agenda of the event. Moreover, presenting a brief overview of the scenario of livelihood of women in the international context, a freelance consultant on women empowerment, Sharu Joshi Shrestha elucidated on the challenges and opportunities of livelihood in the context of Nepal. 

Similarly, the commissioner of the National Information Commission, Yasodha Timsina explained about livelihood skills and practices for woman journalists in the global context. She further discussed multiple scopes and strategies to economically empower women journalists belonging to a diversified work area. Furthermore, Chandani Hamal from Nagarik National Daily, and independent journalist Binita Marahatta designed a presentation focusing on the perspective and experiences they have gathered working on the print media. 

Meanwhile, former president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Mahendra Bista highlighted the current scenario of working women journalists and the opportunities that can be explored to strengthen their livelihood. The training session concluded with a group discussion and a group works assigned to three different groups. 

“As journalists, we have written and discussed on the livelihood of people belonging from different work areas, but we hardly talk and pay attention to the economic sustainability and livelihood specifically concerning to women journalists. Therefore, we have jointly made this training possible for the women journalists across Nepal,” said Babita Basnet, president at MAG.