Film 1 :
Coding Culture — Bangalore's Software Industry: July Boys
(one of a series of three half-hour ethnographic films on the IT/ITES industry)
Directed by Gautam Sonti in collaboration with Carol Upadhya
Produced by the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India
For details see http://www.iisc.ernet.in/nias/codingculture.htm

The film-maker(s) will be present for interaction before and after screening.

(Rationale: these films are on a “hot” topic associated with Bangalore, are related to panel discussion on Saturday morning and have not been shown widely in India – participants may like to write on the film/interview the film-makers and/or refer to the series in broader article/programme on related subjects)

Film 2:
Suttaru Solloppadavaru — Burnt not destroyed
Directed by Sanjana C.B. and Usha B.N.

The revised and updated version of this documentary film incorporates recent developments in the growing phenomenon of acid attacks on women. The Campaign and Struggle Against Acid Attacks on Women (CSAAAW), a coalition of organisations and individuals across Karnataka, which has been collecting and collating information on acid attacks in the state and is in touch with people/organisations dealing with the issue elsewhere in the country, can provide an overview of the situation, including recent developments on the legal and judicial fronts, and talk about how the media can play a role in the campaign for justice. The film-makers (one is an NWMB member) and members of CSAAAW, possibly including a couple of survivors, will participate in the discussion.

(Rationale: This is a particularly heinous form of violence against women which appears to be gaining ground in India/South Asia; Karnataka-based CSAAAW is probably the only organisation in the country devoted to this issue; NWMI members may like to review the film and/or write about the issue/campaign, thereby contributing to the fight against VAW)

• Representative from Infosys Women’s Inclusivity Network?
• Representative from UNITES
• HR Manager from IT/ITES company
• Health professional dealing with IT/ITES clients
• Sociologist/academic who has studied the subject
• Researcher/activist: IT, women and development
• Media analyst
• Q&A, Open Discussion
  

(Rationale: Bangalore is known as the Silicon Plateau and there is considerable media hype relating to the IT/ITES sector – however, little attention is paid to the many, different gender-related aspects of this high-profile, high-performing part of the new economy except in connection with occasional, sensational crimes (ref. the Pratibha and Tanya murder cases). Even less attention is paid to the role of ICTs in development and women’s empowerment at the grassroots. This session is designed to bring these neglected areas together to improve understanding and coverage of an important sector of the Indian economy.)

(Rationale: Women artists have been making a mark in the Indian art world for several years. Some of them reflect their sense of being a woman and their consciousness of gender in their work. An exhibition by one such Bangalore-based artist will be on at a gallery in the city during the NWMI meet. Interactions with the artist, as well as a celebrity woman entrepreneur who is less widely known as an art lover, collector and promoter, are bound to be interesting as well as to yield stories.)

Examples (new ones may emerge by Feb. 07):

• Broadcast Bill
• Broadcasting code/guidelines
• Privatisation of terrestrial TV
• FM licensing (or restrictions on news/current affairs on radio)
• FDI in print media
• Community media (including recent community radio legislation)
• Q&A, Open Discussion
  

(Rationale: Journalists generally have little knowledge of the broader media context in which they operate and there is very little reporting of developments in the media sector, let alone much professional understanding of the implications of the emerging legislative and policy scenario vis a vis the media’s role in democracy. The proposed panel discussion on media law and policy will certainly cover a wide range of interesting and important issues, including the new legislation on community radio and the implications of recent media laws and policies for democracy as a whole and women’s access to media, in particular. It will also touch upon issues relating to morality, sexism and censorship, etc.)

B: Panel discussion: Emerging opportunities and challenges in media professions

• Print
• TV
• Radio
• New Media
• Film?
• Publishing?
• Q&A

Departures 11th evening or 12th morning (rooms booked up to 12 noon on the 12th)
(Check-out accordingly to save on accommodation costs)

N.B. If anyone wants to stay on in CRI or VN beyond the 12th morning, they will have to (a) inform the NWMB early so that we can extend bookings, if available, and (b) bear the cost of board and lodging for the extra days themselves.

Possible pre- and/or post-meet activities:

Of the various alternatives explored, one is more or less certain (see announcement on this site)

Workshop on Child Labour and Children & Media, organized by the Concerned for Working Children, Bangalore. The workshop will begin with sessions in Bangalore (including interactions with children involved in drawing up a Children’s Media Code) and will be followed by a field trip to Kundapur (in South Canara district, near Mangalore and Udupi) to interact with children of Bhima Sangha (child workers’ organisation) who have been involved in the Makkala Panchayat (children’s panchayat) initiative in taking children and their concerns on board in local governance.

Other possible side-lights during 3-day meeting:

• Exhibition/sale of books by Streelekha (Bangalore-based women’s book store) – including books by NWMI members/other media women in different languages.
• Exhibition/sale of products by local women’s self-help group(s).

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