Initiative: Ankita Anand (Individual)
Organization: Network 18: Set an example by not using disrespectful images of women in sexual violence reporting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ankita.anand.904
Twitter: @anandankita
Website: www.change.org
Location: Delhi, India
Ankita Anand is an independent journalist based in Delhi and a recipient of the European Commission’s Lorenzo Natali Media Prize, the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting among many more. Through her campaigned against the representation of women survivors of violence in media, she forced mainstream media to move towards gender sensitive reporting. The images carefully chosen with any news about violence against women always consisted of a scared figure crouching in a corner or with outstretched arms pleading for help, with tattered clothes etc. With the belief that these images end up doing more damage than creating awareness, Ankita started a voicing against the reinforcement of the stereotype of women as “easy preys” and “victims”. She asked Network 18 to set an example by boycotting damaging representational images and using those that are gender sensitive. This campaign forced Network 18 to remove all the images that objectified women and replace them with more neutral images. They also committed to training their staff in gender sensitive reporting.
