INTRODUCTION:

Discussions are focused all over the world on the issues seriously affecting women. The same is happening not only in India, but in Kerala also. The society and media keenly watch the changes happening in women’s lives. This is not because of the reason of increased understanding on the favorable changes happening to women. But women are primarily considered as objects with news value and a scope for sensationalism. The situation is not different in Kerala.Kerala is a small state situated in the southern part of India. But the state gained global attention in social achievements in spite of its poor economic condition.

Compared to the other states of India, Kerala has achieved a lot in education - especially women’s education, health, societal security etc. These material quality of life indicators are distributed across the entire population of Kerala. The state has mass activism, dedicated social workers, high level of political participation and activism among common people. All these have helped Kerala to achieve high standards of living.The demographic profile of Kerala shows, high women’s literacy rate, increased sex ratio, decreased birth rate, increased life expectancy, low rate of morbidity, low death rate etc. Most of these are at par with the rate of developed countries. In spite of these achievements, the rate of women employment, the rate of women participating in politics and decision making bodies, crimes against women etc. are not satisfactory.

Though society has attained social development, it has not been helpful to create favorable changes in the status of women in Kerala. Prior experiences reveal the fact that they are ready to participate and prove their ability in each and every sector of life. It has been proved during the period of mass campaign programmes performed in the state, such as total literacy campaign, people’s planning programme and ‘Kudumbashree’ (State Poverty Eradication Mission) activities. But unfortunately women issues never got sufficient consideration among the political parties of Kerala. In these circumstances the media can play an effective role in improving the status of women by changing the attitude of the society. Because of high rate of literacy, almost all people have the habit of reading newspapers in Kerala. So newspapers can play a vital role in uplifting the status of women. As Medias are the opinion makers of the society, they can create a positive approach towards improving the status of women. In the above circumstances this study analyzes two major Malayalam newspapers viz Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi, on their coverage of women’s issues and the image of women as projected through the content. These newspapers were selected for the study as they are widely read in Kerala.

Social achievements of Kerala:

Swami Vivekananda, termed Kerala as ‘a mental hospital’ pained by the untouchability and other social evils that existed there during his visit in 1892. The social reform movements and the rule of democratic governments helped to improve the social set up. Now Kerala travelled so far when compared to the other states in India. Let’s examine the social developments achieved by Kerala.

Kerala stands at 22^nd position in size and 13^th position in population. In case of Population density, Kerala stands in 3^rd position with 859/ KM². The infant mortality of Keralashows the lowest rate, that is 6, while that of India is 41 for every 1000 live births. This rate of Kerala is equal to the rate of United States of America, a developed nation. Kerala is the most literate state in India with 93.9% of literacy rate while that of our country stands at 74%. All children in thisstate are going to school and the facility of schooling is easily accessible. Thus Kerala gradually attained a high social status equal to that of developed countries.

Gender profile of Kerala:

The overall sex-ratio of the state is different from other states of India. It is 1084 women for 1000 men and this ratio is treated as women friendly. The life expectancy of women in Kerala is 76.3 years, while that of India is 64.2 (2009). 65% of women in India are getting married below 18 years, while the same in Kerala is only 7%. Female literacy rate is also very high in Kerala (92.07%). In spite of the high education profile, the number of women involved in decision making bodies is too low. At present in Kerala legislative assembly, women representation is 5.7%. In number, the total women participation is 8 out of 141 seats. In the case of local self-governments, women representation is more than 50% because the reservations of 50 % seats are made mandatory for women. Anyhow in these places they are proving their ability as the elected representatives.Though the social indicators are high and it is almost similar to developed countries, in Kerala, the behavior of the society towards women is shameful. The atrocities against women are also increasing day by day. In crime rate, Kerala stands equal to Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan while they are far from Kerala in the position of social indicators. This is not the result of education, but the attitude of society towards women.Kerala stands first position in gender development index. The main reason for this is the development in the education and health sector. But the state is behind in job participation and income generating activities, which is an important indicator of GDI. Girl children are being educated for getting a good marriage life has become the new the concept of society. So Kerala stands still in a lower position on female work participation. Few women are indulging in income generating activities even though they are highly educated.

The decision making capacity of women in Kerala is too low even though the education rate is high. This lack of decision making capacity reflects in many fields. A study¹ conducted by ‘Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishat’ (renowned NGO in Kerala) shows the fact that the decision making power for women are too limited in important matters like marriage of children, purchase of valuables, construction of house, travel and even entertainment. The power to handle money always lies with the male members of the family. Again this study² shows that only 12% of women are participating in social or political activities. Among them only 16% are holding key positions. The people of Kerala have high degree of political awareness, but basically it is based on male dominated politics. 86% of women are participating in polling process, but they are deeply influenced by their husbands or fathers. Sustainable participation in the field of politics and social activities is not happening even in the improvement in education, Kudumbashree activities (SHGs) and the reservation of seats in local self-governments, the study continues.

Print Media of Kerala:

The history of Malayalam newspapers begins with the publication of ‘Rajyasamacharam’ in June 1847, before hundred years of independence. The contribution of Christian missionaries in the development of Malayalam print media is remarkable. More than 250 dailies are registered in Malayalam language according to Registrar of Newspapers of India. In this era of electronic media, the readers of Malayalam print media remain unchanged because of the highest literacy rate. Moreover, Malayalam dailies are giving more importance to local news now a day to attract the readers. They are also attracting the audience by their new experiments in layout, picture editing and introducing new trends in journalism.

Women Images:

The word ‘image’ means a picture that is produced by a camera, artist, mirror etc. Another way we can say image as the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device or an electronic device. According to Chambers English dictionary image is ‘a picture or representation in the imagination or memory’. Oxford dictionary says that Image is ‘a general impression of a person or thing’. Dictionary continues that it is the imitation of object’s external form, especially figure of saint or divinity, idol. Anyway image means a visual representation of something. Let us think about the status of women. In front of law, all are equal. Our constitution gives women the same position equal to that of men. But what is the real picture of our society? Women are experiencing a secondary position in society from a long time. They are also suffering from deprivation and discrimination. In this context, it is necessary to empower women in order to reduce the inequality between men and women. Mass media can create a thought of equality between men and women by conveying a positive attitude in women issues among the society. Because they are considered as the opinion makers. That means they have to create positive images of women in news reporting. To build a better society that is free from discriminations, media has to project women like a picture in mirror.

Media and Women:

Gender inequality in journalism is a worldwide phenomenon. In Indian print media, women worked as receptionists and telephone operators for a long time. Seema Guha of Times of India and Anitha Prathap of India Today did a remarkable job in the 1980’s. In an unpublished report³, ‘problems and prospects of women journalists in South India’ by the second press commission in 1980 says that women journalists were rare in Kerala. These minorities are allowed to report the issues on women and children and cultural functions. In this new millennium, more women are entering to the wonderful world of mass media. Now we can find several women bylines on different pages of print media. The participation of women in media is increasing day by day. Even though the participation of women is increasing, the male domination in this sector is too strong comparing to the other sectors. It will be very clear if we look at the position of news editor of various newspapers and news channels. Women are not considered for the position of editors or in the key positions in various media. Most probably the key posts of women publications are also handled by men. Women are working as anchors in television and as actors in films. Behind the camera or in the production sector, their participation is negligible. The gender profile of Kerala is entirely different from that of India. The status of women never changed according to the achievements in the social indicators. The attitude of society towards women is clear from their behavior. As the opinion makers, media is able to change the attitude of the society. To what extent the print media of Kerala is working to change the attitude of society is the prime aim of this study. For this purpose, the most circulated two dailies, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi, are selected.

Period of Study, Objectives and Methodology:

For this study newspaper for the month of June, 2017 has been selected. News items, features, editorials, interviews and other articles have been analyzed for the study.

● To understand the space given by the dailies to women related stories.

● To understand the space allocated for women writers.

● To compare the current status of newspaper’s approach on women with prior experiences in Kerala society.

Content analysis is used to find out the possible results. Available secondary data was used for the comparison of the present status and prior experiences. The analysis is done by categorizing the data availed from the survey. Conclusions are drawn based on the analysis.

Data Collection and Presentation:

Malayala Manorama:

MalayalaManorama is a daily morning newspaper, in Malayalam language, published from Kottayam in the state of Kerala, by Malayala Manorama Company Limited. First issue of Malayala Manorama published on 22^nd March 1890, while Kottayam was hosting a popular cattle fair. It was a four-page weekly newspaper, became a daily on 2^nd July 1928. In 1938, Travancore state proscribed Malayala Manorama daily. Later editorK.C.MammenMappillai was convicted and imprisoned on charges of corruption and fraud. Malayala Manorama re-commenced regular publication in 1947. Currently it has a readership of over 24 Million. According to World Association of Newspapers, as of 2011, it holds a position as top 11^thmost circulating newspaper in the world. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) 2016 December figures, it is the largest circulating regional language newspaper in India and largest circulating newspaper in Kerala.

Mathrubhumi:

Mathrubhumi is a daily morning Malayalam newspaper, founded by KP Kesavamenon, an active volunteer in the freedom struggle. Mathrubhumi Company was registered on 15^th february1922 by a group of nationalist activists. It started the publication on 18^th march 1923 and published thrice in a week. It became a daily on 6^th April, 1930. It started from Kozhikode and its history is closely connected with freedom struggle. Now it is the second largest circulating newspapers of Kerala and 4^thlargest regional language newspaper according to Audit Bureau of Circulation.These papers are selected for the study because these dailies hold the first and second position in readership of Kerala. It is a pilot study. Hence the details of women related news are collected for one month, June 2017. On 26^th, these dailies were not published because of holiday on 25^th in connection with Ramzan. For the purpose of this study, the data collected was about the women related news items, features, editorials and other articles. How much space is used to publish women related news in the first page, editorial page, op-ed page, other pages and supplements is collected from the dailies. The subject of news that published on women is also examined.

And also examined various study reports about the print media of Kerala. Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad, an NGO conducted a study on the life and thought of Kerala women named ‘STHREE PADANAM- Kerala sthree engane jeevikkunnu? Engane chinthikkunnu?’ (A study on women –women of Kerala, how they live? how they think?) This report and ‘GENDER PROFILE IN KERALA- Executive summary, prepared by IRTC, Mundur, Palakkad’ are also used for this study as secondary data.

Analysis and Interpretation:

Malayala Manorama:

The researcher thoroughly scrutinized the dailies from 1.06.2017 to 30.06.2017. In the month of June on 26^th, the dailies were not published because of the holiday on 25.06.2017. The total number of pages published during this period by Malayala Manorama is 670. The area of one page of this newspaper is 1908sq. cm. So the total area of newspaper published during this month is 1,278,360 sq.cm. During this period the daily published women related news in an area of 35,091sq.cm (2.75%). It published 20 articles of women writers, 13 news stories in the front page, 10 items in editorial page, 34 items in op-ed page and one editorial on 8.6.17 on the necessity of women security. This editorial points out the need to reduce the different type of atrocities against women. Among the 13 news published in the front page, four are on politics and four are on atrocities against women. Equal importance was given to political news and crime news of women. Among the nine articles published in the editorial page, three of them are on health and one is about transgender community by women writers. Articles on health were on the basis of dengue fever spread throughout Kerala during this period. Two articles were about politics, on the prime minister election of United Kingdom and presidential election of our nation. In both elections the main contestants were women, Ms. Theresa may and Ms. Meerakumar.

Among the 182 news items published in the other pages, one third of it is on atrocities, accidents, death and other crime news of women. This daily published 20 items written by women, on variety of themes, such as politics, yoga, heath, agriculture, environment, literature review, education, art and so on. They used 4354 sq. cm (0.34%) area to publish photos without news. Majority of this space is used to religious and yoga photos. But 27% of these photos are, I think, not good to create positive image of women among the society. Majority of the photos published were in connection with festivals of ladies. It conveys a message that they are engaging in entertainment or religious activities more than responsibilities.This daily publishes pull-outs on all days except on Mondays. Sunday supplements, matrimonial edition and metro manorama are the pull-outs published by them. Only 22 items are published in these days on women related or written by women. Among these 23% is on cooking and fashion.

Mathrubhumi:

The total number of pages published by this daily during this period is 584. The area of one page of this daily is also 1908sq. cm. So the total area of newspaper published during this month is 1,114,272 sq.cm. During this period the daily published women related news in an area of 31,568sq.cm (2.83%). It published 19 articles of women writers, 11 news stories in the front page, four items in editorial page, 17 items in op-ed page and one editorial on non-receipt of coolie of ‘thozhilurapputhozhilalikal’. This programme comes under NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) and majority of the participants are women. Four items among the 11 news stories published in front page is on the sexual assault against women. Among the four, three are about the assault of the film actress. On the editorial page, out of four, one is editorial, two are on politics and the other is about an effective waste management system. This daily also gives importance to sexual assault cases in the op-ed page. Out of 17 news items published in op-ed page, nine are based on different types of assaults against women. Among the 162 items published in the other pages, 62 are based on death, accident, assault on women or crime done by women.They published 19 articles on various themes written by women during this period. These include education, agriculture, health, environment, politics, finance, reviews, food, fashion etc. They used 2629sq.cm (0.24%) area to publish photos without news which include the themes on school opening, religious festival, yoga day, hartal, strike, painting exhibition etc. Malayala Manorama published more sensational photos than Mathrubhumi is a difference.

Except Monday, this daily is also publishing pull-outs. They are Sunday supplement, metro magic and city special edition. 26 items published in these pull-outs including features, articles, review and short stories. They are on different subjects such as agriculture, environment, health, travel, art, food and fashion. Among the pull-outs none is published as women’s edition. There exists a difference between these two dailies. Mathrubhumi projected the action taken by the authorities against the accused in crime on women while giving such news items. It is a good model to follow which will help to create a serious thought against crime.The studies⁴of KSSP reveals that 75% of women are reading newspapers. But a major portion of them doesn’t show seriousness towards reading newspapers.

Mrs. Geetha (teacher and women activist) says through her book ‘sthreevadathinte parisaram’ (the environment of female debate) that in various print media they are presenting the crime against womenraffish. They are not compelling the readers to interfere seriously in the women issues. Sometimes the media willreject the crime against women if the accused is from rulers or wealthy people, she continues. The proprietorincreases his profit by presenting women in front of readers in accordance with male dominated society and trying to approve it. They are giving importance to cookery, fashion, beauty tips etc. No print media is discussing the actual issues faced by women. Moreover, consciously they are spreading anti women messages among the society.

The study⁵conducted in the year of 1999 on Delhi editions of two English newspapers revealed that print media allocates a small area for women related news. Most of the dailies are briefing the women issues to the pull-outs published once in a week. The study continues that the space allotted for cricket is 20% more than that of women news. In a paper presentation on ‘Women of Kerala’ conducted by women development center, Govt College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram and AKG Research and Study Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Smt. Haimavathy Thayat opinioned that when media changed to an industry, the main motto became as profit. Then, advertisement has got more importance. Thus role of women changed as goods for sales.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:

o This study considered two dailies for one month. For more reliability, it must have carried out for one year using more dailies.

o To reach for a final conclusion qualitative analysis of the news items also should be done.

o A comparative study is not possible because of non-availability of reliable data in connection with the studies about women related news published in Malayalam dailies.

Findings:

● The total news coverage on women of both dailies comes under 3% and first page coverage is about 5% (4.5 and 5.6 respectively) of total women related news items.

● Only one editorial is given by both newspapers on women issue during this period.

● 0.34% and 0.24% of the total space is used to publish photos without news. This space is too little comparing to the total space, but Malayala Manorama is creating more sensationalism using these photos than Mathrubhumi.

● No importance is given by the dailies for the empowerment of women, especially in economic, political and social status.

● Instead of giving importance to serious issues that affect women, dailies are focusing on the atrocities against women, accident and death. Most probably these items contain human interest element to attract the readers.

● Even though most part of coverage on women is given in supplements (17%, 24.7% respectively), they are not ready issue one on women.

● The serious analytical article in the editorial page given is about the election of president of India and Prime Minister of Great Britain. It may be because, women are the main contestants in both elections.

● No importance is given to women writers and women related articles, may be the reason that women are not serious readers. The articles given by women writers are based on least important subjects such as fashion, food, travel, art, reviews etc. and most of them are published in educational pages and pull-outs.

● Mathrubhumi is trying to report the action taken by the authorities against the accused in the crime against women than Malayala Manorama. This will help the people to recoil from criminal activities.

● Mathrubhumi is publishing women related news items a little bit more than MalayalaManorama.

CONCLUSION:

The study shows the fact that these dailies are not fulfilling their role in changing the attitude of the society on women. Women must accelerate the serious reading habit in accordance with their education status. Based on the enhanced women’s readership, the dailies may force to change their policy.

REFERENCES:

1. 1,2,4- Sthreepadanam- Keralasthreeenganejeevikkunnu? Keralasthreeenganechinthikkunnu (2013) – a study conducted by Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (NGO), Trissur

2. Prasad, Kiran (2004). Communication and Empowerment of Women; Strategies and Policy Insights from India, Vol.II, New Delhi: The Women Press.

3. 5- Kalyani Menon-Sen and Sivakumar AK (2003), Indiayilesthreekalethratholamswathanthraranu? Ethratholamthulyaranu? – report prepared by the office of the Indian Resident Co-ordinator, UNO

4. Prasad, Kiran (2006). Women in Rural Development: Contemporary Social Policy and Practice, New Delhi: The Women Press.

5. Prasad, Kiran (2016). Gender and ICTs: Future Directions in Bridging the Digital Divide, New Delhi: The Women Press.

6. Akhileswari R (2014)-Women Journalists in India, swimming against the tide, The women press, Delhi

7. Geetha (2005) Sthreevadathinte Keralaparisaram, Maithri books, Thiruvananthapuram

8. Gender profile in Kerala – executive summary: prepared by Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Mundur, Palakkad submitted to Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt of India

9. Sthreepadanam- Kerala sthreeenganejeevikkunnu? enganechinthikkunnu? A study by KSSPKeralam- international congress on Kerala studies (2005 December 9-11), abstracts, vol. 1by AKG Centre for Research and Studies, Thiruvananthapuram

10. Panchayathiraj Samvidhanavum Sthreekalum (2006) – Sakhi women’s resource center, Thiruvananthapuram.

11. Aravindan KP(editor) Kerala Padanam- Keralamenganejeevikkunnu? Keralamenganechinthikkunnu (2006) – a study conducted by Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (NGO), Trissur

Received on 24.10.2017 Modified on 11.12.2017

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2018; 9(1): 125-130.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2018.00022.0