Launch of ‘Women Make the News – Thailand’ online database for journalists aims to put Thai female experts front and centre in media
Initiative targets gender disparities with practical tool reporters can use to find female sources
24 FEBRUARY, 2017, BANGKOK – There is a major gulf between the contributions and achievements of women in Thailand and their portrayal in Thai media. UNESCO Bangkok and partners are addressing that disparity with the launch of Women Make the News – Thailand, an online database of Thai female expert sources for journalists.
More than 250 Thai women experts have joined the database to date, sharing their expertise in three areas often lacking in prominent female voices: media, ICT and innovation; environment and climate change; as well as the cultures and histories of ASEAN countries. UNESCO Bangkok will host a launch of the Women Make the News – Thailand database two days prior to International Women’s Day, 8 March, when the website will be officially promoted.
Experts from the database will be available at the launch for interviews in English or Thai. The event will also mark the kick-off of a media campaign by UNESCO Bangkok to call on Thai journalists and members of the public to pledge their support to ensuring more women’s voices in the media.
(The launch will be organized in English and Thai with simultaneous translation.)
WHERE: UNESCO Bangkok Office.
WHEN: 6 March, 2017
Agenda:
17.30-18.00 – Registration
18.00-18.15 – Opening: Embassy of Sweden UNESCO Bangkok, CCDKM
18.15-18.30 – Presentation of Women Make the News Thailand
18.30-19.30 Panel discussion on women's visibility in Thailand with journalists and experts from the database
19.30 – -20.30 Reception
WHO: The panel discussion will be moderated by Sanitsuda Ekachai, former editorial pages editor of the Bangkok Post and prominent proponent of gender equality in the media.
Panellists will include:
Kanlaya Chularattakorn, Indigenous Women's network in Thailand, Chiang Mai
Misako Ito, Regional Adviser for Communication and Information, UNESCO Bangkok
Supinya Klangnarong, Commissioner, National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)
Siriporn Pajharawat, Director of Developer Experience & Platform Evangelism (DX) Group, Microsoft Thailand
Chanette Tinnam, Lecturer, Contemplative Education Center, Mahidol University
CONTACT: Due to limited space, journalists interested in attending the event are asked to please RSVP by contacting Chantal Mairesse, UNESCO Bangkok Communication and Information Unit: c.mairesse@unesco.org
Media queries: Noel Boivin, UNESCO Bangkok Media and Communications Officer, n.boivin@unesco.org
SOCIAL MEDIA: Join the conversation using the hashtag #wmnthailand.
RESOURCES:
In English:
Programme and Speakers bios
Project Background
Women Make the News – Thailand infographic
In Thai:
The database was initiated and developed by UNESCO Bangkok, with the support of Sweden, and has been implemented in cooperation with CCDKM and Akin Asia.
Following the project launch, UNESCO will also host three one-day media training workshops for database experts, sponsored by Australia Aid.
