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Uks Radio ProjectCountry
Pakistan
Programme SummarySpecific objectives of the radio project include:
Communication StrategiesThis project features independent syndicated radio programmes that are designed to bring a gender perspective to bear on social issues that Uks describes as largely overlooked in Pakistan society, such as health issues, prostitution, and human trafficking. Organisers say that research into such challenging topics has added to the all-female team's individual learning curve and heightened their own levels of awareness. To prepare these women for their radio work, Internews offered a 3-day training session that involved hands-on, practical demonstration of radio production techniques. In the programmes themselves, interpersonal exchange is a technique for bringing forward voices of the unheard. The radio programmes are aired by various FM radio stations throughout the country. In this sense, radio is a tool for bringing rural voices to urban listeners. Since FM channels have a live programming system, Uks' programmes fit within the cycle of "feed back and feed forward". Programming Examples: Meri Awaz Sunno (Listen to my Voice) Ghurbat, Amn Aur Insaf-Eik Tikon (the Triangle of Poverty, Peace and Justice) Mujhe Bolney Do (Let me Speak) Pani ki Kahani, Aurat ki Zubani (Water and Women Issues) Chalo Phir Se Muskoraen (Let's smile again) Development IssuesGender, Women, Democracy and Governance. Key PointsFor organisers, radio promised to be a most effective and far-reaching medium in a country with "an abysmally low literacy rate and the non-availability of television transmission in remote areas". They claim that "Uks is now known for producing serious and issue-based programmes." Uks (an Urdu word that means Reflection) was started in December 1997 by a group of like-minded women including journalists, human and women’s rights activists, and academics - all of whom felt that there was no forum where concerns regarding the relationship between women and the media could be raised and shared. Uks' mission is "to impact the media policy makers and urge them to review policies that negate or damage women’s role in national development. It also aims to reach out to as many readers, viewers and listeners and try to promote awareness among women and men, of the need to question existing values that create gender inequality. The other goal is awareness-raising among our women to empower them in their fight against inequality and prepare them for effective participation in all areas of society and development." Uks feels that one of the major reasons for stereotypical and derogatory projection of women in the Pakistani media is the extreme under-representation of women in the media as journalists and broadcasters. By training a team of women journalists and heading an all-female production house, Uks feels it has contributed in its own way to rectifying the under-representation of women and hopes that this trend catches on. As a result of the yearlong project with Internews, Uks is now, reportedly, the only non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Pakistan which owns its own production house. The production facility also complements Uks efforts in fostering awareness rising in the print media. PartnersInternews worked with Uks for approximately 1 year; this partnership ended in July 2004. [Internews' projects in Pakistan are funded by a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)]. ContactTasneem Ahmar
Director
Uks - Research, Resource and Publication Centre on Women and Media
House-10-B, Street 71
Islamabad
Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 7111419 OR +92 51 2850906
Fax: +92 51 2850906
Related SummariesSourceHIV/AIDS Programme Experience Submission, November 20 2004; Uks webpage; Internews Pakistan website; "Women in Reflection: UKS Radio Project, Pakistan", i4d, April 2007; and Uks website, retrieved May 20 2008. Placed on the Communication Initiative site May 20 2005 Last Updated October 16 2008 How useful did you find the knowledge and contacts on this page to your work? Post your comments (review comments from others below): |
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