Project period: 2025
Supported by: The Asia Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

News Network, with support from The Asia Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), is implementing a three-month initiative titled “Technical Knowledge Development of Female Journalists” under the Promoting Effective, Responsive and Inclusive Governance in Bangladesh (PERI) Programme.

The project, taking place in the divisional headquarters of Dhaka and Khulna, aims to empower female journalists by enhancing their technical and professional skills. Despite their growing presence in the media, women journalists in Bangladesh continue to face significant challenges—ranging from deep-rooted cultural norms and safety concerns to limited institutional support. These barriers hinder their full participation and career progression within the industry.

In response, the project employs a comprehensive strategy that includes shifting societal attitudes, improving recruitment and retention of women in journalism, and providing focused training opportunities. By building technical capacity and strengthening professional confidence, the initiative equips women journalists to better navigate the evolving media landscape.

The overarching goal is to promote gender equality in the media sector and support women journalists as catalysts for positive social change and inclusive governance.

PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTING SAFETY OF JOURNALIST

News Network has initiated a project aimed at enhancing journalists’ awareness and skills in digital security, physical safety, and gender-sensitive reporting funded by UNESCO – IPDC. The project is designed in align with the principles and goals of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. Its primary objective is to improve journalists’ understanding and abilities in both digital security and physical safety, creating a safer and more supportive environment for journalists and media workers in both conflict and non-conflict settings.

The project will target journalists, including reporters and media gatekeepers. Key activities will involve training of reporters and engaging media gatekeepers from regional and national print and broadcast media outlets. Approximately 105 journalists will be benefitted from the initiative, which will take place in four divisional headquarters — Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur.

COLLABORATIVE ACTION FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (CAFE)

Freedom of Expression (FoE) is crucial for empowering individuals and fostering development of a nation. It encompasses the right to speak, to be heard, and to participate in political, artistic, and social spheres. FoE also includes the “right to know” which ensures the ability to seek, receive, and share information through any form of media. It is the freedom to hold and voice opinions on significant issues, access to information, and hold those in power accountable. It plays an important role in healthy development of a society. In line with this, News Network, with support from Internews, has initiated a fifteen-month project titled Collaborative Action for Freedom of Expression (CAFE). The project aims to strengthen collaboration between journalists and civil society organizations (CSOs) to advance freedom of expression and advocate for reforms in laws and policies. The initiative will be implemented in all divisional headquarters and key districts. The objectives of the project are: (i) enhance the capacity of civil society to document restrictions on freedom of expression (ii) support multi-stakeholder efforts to generate public demand and raise awareness among policymakers about the need to reform restrictive laws impacting freedom of expression and (iii) equip journalists and CSOs with essential safety knowledge and skills to help them prepare for and respond to any threat while discharging professional duties.