How are women in South Sudan being portrayed in the media?
This week we explore an issue about a new nation, born earlier this year and which still has some pretty traditional patriarchal attitudes.
How are women in South Sudan being portrayed in the media?
Does this herald a new dawn for this invisible group?
This is a problem that spans the globe. If a sector of society is all but invisible, how do you go about representing them in the media?
This is a particular pertinent issue with the portrayal of women in recently created South Sudan. And its related to the everyday difficulties that women working in the media face globally.
I speak to Asha Arabi, a contributor to a new book called Pain, Hope and Patience: The Lives of Women in South Sudan which examines the issue of female representation in South Sudan.
I am also joined by Lyse Doucet, 91Èȱ¬ presenter and correspondent, who explained how she approaches this issue.
In our mailbag, we have questions from listeners about the 91Èȱ¬'s coverage of the recent riots in England. Erik Kao is concerned about potential double standards when it comes to reporting.
Erik wrote, "I couldn't help drawing a parallel with the Tibetan riots before the Beijing Olympics. It's disconcerting that the way the 91Èȱ¬ is covering London riots is so different from that in Tibetan riots.
91Èȱ¬ news branded the looting, smashing and arson in London as riots while when the same happened in Tibet, your news reports had so much reservation in using the word riot, not to mention that seldom did you call those Tibetan extremists setting fires and attacking non-Tibetans as rioters. You used the word 'protesters' which implied a sort of justification in their violence".
What do you think? Are there double standards in the way 91Èȱ¬ is covering domestic disturbances?
Should we pay extra attention to the tone of this coverage in the run up to the London Olympics?
Is the World service replicating the news agenda of every other broadcaster?
And is it missing a trick to be different?
We want to hear from you so get in touch.
Rajan Datar is the presenter of Over To You.
Over To You is your chance to have your say about the 91Èȱ¬ World Service and its programmes.
Broadcast times can be found by clicking here
Listen to previous episodes of Over To You
Send the team your feedback by email (overtoyou@bbc.co.uk), telephone (44 144 960 9000), SMS (447786 202006) or by leaving comments on this blog
Comments Post your comment