"Women and the Media" should be viewed on two different levels

On the public level:

Within the framework of a free and independent press the media should play a central role as a tool in the implementation of all the twelve points in the Plan of Action

• by placing gender-related issues on the agenda,
• by raising public awareness on women’s human rights and influencing traditional attitudes to the roles of men and women in society,
• by monitoring Governments and institutions on their achievements and failures with regard to the implementation of the Plan of Action.

On the media level:

To enable the media to fullfill its role in the implemtation of the Plan of Action initiatives should be taken and active support given to

• training opportunities for women in the media, particularly with regard to new technology, the Internet and basic journalism,
• grassroots projects to enable women to regord and communicate their own everyday lives and concerns,
• radio projects as a medium to reach out to and access women in more isolated areas in third world countries,
• study courses and research aimed at sensitizing both journalists and the general public on gender portrayal: how men and women are portrayed and on which issues they are given a voice
• mechanisms to bring more women into top management positions in media companies