Whose News?: The Media and Women's Issues [Hardcover]

Ammu Joseph (Editor), Kalpana Sharma (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0803991525 | ISBN-13: 978-0803991521

"This book is an important and rare contribution to the scanty literature on the status of women in Indian Society and the media's coverage of women's issues. Though there is no dearth of literature on "women", yet this is a unique and rare attempt to point out the interaction between women and the media - both electronic and print.... The book is a detailed and indepth study on a topic which is very important, sensitive and quite controversial.... The get-up and printing are of the finest quality.... It is a useful, interesting and authoritative study with a lucid and forceful expression. The book is useful for media watchers and scholars of "gender studies" and "mass communication"." --Social Action "This book provides insights into the factors that govern and shape media content in India. It also brings to light media perception of issues that are of vital importance and particular concern to Indian women. . . . Ammu Joseph and Kalpana Sharma, the editors who initiated the study, are two experienced media practitioners who have held decision-making positions in their media organizations, and have been personally involved with women's groups in India. This lends more credence to the book. . . . This book is not only appropriate for women and feminist groups, but it is indeed a must for media professionals--both men and women--and for all concerned members of the world community." --The Journal of Development Communication The rising concern about the status of women in Indian society has found its most visible expression in the media's coverage of women's issues. Employing a novel methodology, Whose News? analyzes press coverage of five key issues related to Indian women: dowry-related deaths, rape, the right to maintenance of Muslim divorces, the misuse of sex determination tests such as amniocentesis, and the reemergence of the banned practice of sati. In addition, this unique volume carefully critiques the portrayal of women on prime time television between 1979 and 1988. As the first serious and systematic effort to analyze this issue, Whose News? will interest scholars in communication, gender studies, and development studies. "The study offers a veritable fund of information and gives extremely valuable suggestions. . . . The volume is a commendable addition to women's studies and to the communication research being conducted in journalism/communication faculties of our universities." -The Hindustan Times "Whose News? is a significant book because it takes studies about gender bias in the Indian media a stp further by providing firm quantitative and qualitative data bout the selective status of news related to women. It records a fact many of us recognize, but it does so with concrete proof and reasoned analysis." -The Times of India "This book serves as an important reminder against any complacency that may ensue from the increased visibility of women's issues in the media today." -The Telegraph "[This] is an important book in the still nascent field of media studies in India, particularly since it comes at a time when the Indian media is facing n unprecedented assault form `market forces' from within and abroad . . . The strength of the book lies in its painstaking and meticulous research and the insider knowledge both Sharma and Joseph have of how the media gathers, selects an projects `news'. . . This book is valuable for the insight it provides into the way the media, consciously and unconsciously works. As such, it should be read by all media professionals particularly desk people who determine to such a large extent the quantum, placement, and perspective of news and views." -The Hindu

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd (October 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803991525
• ISBN-13: 978-0803991521
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,723,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched book on a difficult issue, April 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Whose News?: The Media and Women's Issues (Hardcover)

This book provided us with new insights on the quality of the daily news. The review of Women's magazines was excellent. The tables were informative and well-organised. A very useful edition for media research