ROLE OF COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF KHABAR LAHARIYA NEWSPAPER OF INDIA

Abstract

Participation of women in media is still inadequate and confined to mainstream media of urban
and semi-urban areas. The alternate media like community radio and community newspaper opens
avenues for the rural women to work as journalist and creates role models for others in the rural
communities. This research paper is based on a Community Newspaper i.e. Khabar Lahariya,
which is being run by women from underprivileged and backward communities of Indian society.
It is the only newspaper in India that is published by a rural woman. It works for local people and
disseminate information from local perspective. This paper investigates the strategies adopted by
the newspaper to ensure continuous participation of rural women in reporting and writing for the
newspaper. This paper also investigates how the continuous engagement of women with the
newspaper leads to empowerment. The content analysis method is used to gain a comprehensive
understanding of the phenomenon wherein interviews of women journalists of the newspaper
available on website and YouTube have been analyzed along with the content pertaining to
women. The study suggests newspaper adopts a flexible policy of recruitment and other job
conditions which encourages local women to participate and contribute in it. The platform enables
the women to voice their opinion and concerns which leads to the skill development of the self-
expression, confidence and public speaking. Reporting on socio-economic, political and local
issues enhances their understanding and empowers them to take decisions in their day-to-day life.
The digital transition of the newspaper opens avenues for the rural women to learn digital media
skills. The present case study suggests newspaper is playing a significant role in women
empowerment by developing the skills of decision-making, self expression, public speaking and
digital media.
Keywords: Community Newspaper; Khabar Lahariya; Rural Women; Skill Development;
Empowerment