New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Vijaya Rahatkar, urged media professionals to go beyond simple reporting and engage in raising awareness, protecting dignity, and advocating for gender justice, as stated by an official on Saturday.

While addressing attendees at Media Manthan, a two-day national journalist meeting held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the capital, Rahatkar commented, "Reporting that is sensitive to gender is a pledge to uphold dignity, truth, and justice—where the voices of women are honored rather than sensationalized."

The NCW Chair encouraged reporters to serve as agents of change and to amplify their roles as strong, responsible advocates for women's empowerment.

This event gathered print and digital media experts from across the nation, with journalists from over 20 states and Union Territories participating, to discuss ethical, responsible, and gender-sensitive reporting on women's issues.

"An interactive dialogue allowed participants to exchange success stories, pinpoint challenges, and highlight best practices in reporting on women from various regions," the statement noted.

The initiative sought to reinforce the media's role as a crucial partner in fostering dignity-focused narratives, ensuring legal awareness, and promoting informed and sensitive coverage of women's issues.

The conference provided an engaging platform for journalists, editors, legal authorities, and media practitioners to participate in meaningful discussions regarding the challenges, responsibilities, and evolving opportunities in the realm of women's reporting.

Member Secretary Sudeep Jain and Additional Secretary Radhika Chakravarthy were present at the event.

During the opening session, two publications were launched: "True Cyber Sakhi" by Truecaller and "Reporting with Dignity" by the National Commission for Women, both aimed at guiding media professionals towards ethical reporting and safer digital practices.

The Media Manthan conference included a session on Media Law and Ethical Framework by Pinky Anand, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and NCW Committee Member, discussing legal boundaries and ethical obligations in media.

A session by Manmohan Verma, NCW Law Officer, offered insights into legal protections for women and the media's impact on these issues.

Discussions during the session titled "Media in Transition, Women in Transformation: Portraying with Dignity, Depth and Diversity" led by Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, centered on the evolving narrative frameworks in media.

Furthermore, a session on Language, Framing and Reporting Practice conducted by Swaty Gupta stressed the significance of language in shaping public perception and promoting responsible storytelling.