VOICE, a rights-based civil society organization, on Monday organized a day-long Capacity Building Workshop on Policy Development: Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Media in Dhaka, aimed at equipping media professionals with practical tools to promote fairness and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and gender-diverse communities in news coverage.
The workshop is part of an ongoing initiative to develop a comprehensive guideline to help media outlets improve representation, participation and inclusion of marginalized groups. Earlier, a similar day-long session focusing on policy and editorial practices to advance diversity and inclusion in the media was held on 29 November 2025.
Editors, reporters, newsroom staff, human resources personnel and members of journalist associations took part in the programme. Participants received training on disability and gender diversity, barriers to participation in the media, and strategies to address those challenges. Discussions underscored the need for a clear media policy to ensure diversity, equality and inclusion across newsrooms.
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of VOICE, said that despite good intentions, persons with disabilities and people of diverse gender identities often remain excluded from media workplaces. “A clear policy can ensure that diversity and inclusion are reflected in news presentation, recruitment processes, workplace environments and decision-making,” he said.
Priyata Tripura, program officer of VOICE, noted that people with disabilities and gender-diverse individuals are frequently portrayed negatively in the media. “Highlighting their positive stories can help challenge societal misconceptions. Strengthening the skills of media professionals is therefore essential,” she said.
Participants stressed that inclusive development is not possible without meaningful participation of all groups. They discussed key components for a future media policy, including fair representation in news content, accessible platforms, inclusive HR and workplace policies, appropriate use of language, expanded investigative reporting, digital safety, effective grievance redress mechanisms and human rights-based storytelling frameworks.
The workshop was facilitated by researcher Abdullah Zafar. With support from UNESCO, VOICE is implementing the project titled “Enhancing Media Diversity through Gender and Disability Inclusion in Bangladesh,” which aims to provide clear and practical guidance for media professionals. Representatives from leading media outlets, including DBC News, IP News, The Daily Observer, Dhaka Tribune, The Business Standard, Financial Express, Dhaka Post and Daily Sangbad, participated in the session.
