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20th National Meeting Keynote Address by KR Meera on Media at the Crossroads: Independence vs Influence Award-winning author KR Meera was a journalist in an earlier life. She was, in fact, the first woman journalist at the Malayala Manorama newspaper. Below is the speech she gave as the keynote speaker ...

Novelist and former journalist KR Meera summed it perfectly, during her public keynote address at the 20thr NWMI National Meet.

Read her empowering speech here: nwmindia.org/national-mee...

#WomenInMedia #WomenInJournalism

♀️ There's no denying the power of independent news media in India. And many of them are helmed by women, who have carved a way into a male-dominated space, drawing in strength from their lived experiences 💪🏽

🖊️ Novelist and former journalist KR Meera's imploration — during her public keynote address at the 20th NWMI National Meet in Thiruvananthapuram — is something that all of us can resonate with.

♀️ For the nearly 950 members of NWMI, male-dominated spaces are not simply about their everyday-worlds, but also their workspaces. This means, negotiating the complex bind of caste, class and sexism not only when they are reporting, but also within the newsrooms.

YouTube video by MyStory AMMU JOSEPH'S PASSIONATE JOURNEY

The documentary was released during the public meeting at the 20th National NWMI Meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on February 7.

Click the link below to watch 'Media Woman Ammu Joseph’s Passionate Journey'.

youtu.be/1XtvYsr46k4?...

#NWMIMEET2026 #THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

The Kerala Media Academy had commissioned a documentary on NWMI founder member Ammu Joseph as part of a series on pioneering mediapersons from Kerala. Shiny Benjamin created and directed the documentary, while NWMI member Saraswathy Nagarajan served as a creative consultant.

An all-women chenda melam, percussionists from Kerala, brings alive the logo of NWMI's 20th National meet. Watch!

🎥 Manaswani Prabhune
✒️ Jisha Surya

#NWMIMEET2026 #THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

20th National Meeting Keynote Address by KR Meera on Media at the Crossroads: Independence vs Influence Award-winning author KR Meera was a journalist in an earlier life. She was, in fact, the first woman journalist at the Malayala Manorama newspaper. Below is the speech she gave as the keynote speaker ...

Meera spoke at length on Media at the Crossroads: Independence vs Influence.

Full text of her speech here:
nwmindia.org/national-mee...

#NWMIMEET2026 #THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Award-winning author KR Meera was the first woman journalist at the Malayala Manorama newspaper.

She delivered the keynote speech on 7 February 2026 at Trivandrum Club, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, at the 20th National Meeting of the Network of Women in Media, India.

Here’s to the journey so far ✨ and the road ahead 🚀

#NWMI2026 #NWMI20NationalMeet #NWMIInKerala #WomenInMedia #MediaAtTheCrossroads #JournalismCommunity

Rooted in sisterhood, solidarity, and collective strength 💜, the NWMI National Meeting remains a space to share stories, challenge power and imagine fairer futures – together.

The meeting will feature sessions on Kerala’s gender paradox, palliative care, reporting violence against women, climate and environmental journalism, AI in everyday newsrooms, women in cinema and more 🌍🎥🤖.

This year’s theme, ‘Media at the Crossroads: Independence vs Influence’ 📰⚖️, frames conversations on the pressures shaping journalism today.

From February 6–8, 2026, women journalists and media practitioners from across the country – including remote and underrepresented regions – will gather to learn, listen, debate and reconnect 🤝🏽.

In its 24th year as a collective, the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) sets course for Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 🌴 for its 20th National Meeting.

Inksights by Anupama Bijur Illustrated scene of a wooden boat sailing on blue water with the name “Muni” painted on its side. Inside the boat, three smiling adults sit together; one holds a red-and-white umbrella, another drinks from a green coconut with a straw, and the third sits relaxed with knees tucked in. Two more people wave from small windows in the cabin. The style is colorful, hand-drawn, and playful, with a warm, cheerful travel vibe.

Inksights by Anupama Bijur | February 2026
✨ All Aboard 🚢🌊

#NWMI2026 #NWMI20NationalMeet #NWMIInKerala #PublicMeeting #WomenInCinema #WomenInMedia #Thiruvananthapuram

🗓 Saturday, February 7
🕡6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Trivandrum Club, Thiruvananthapuram

Get ready for an evening of reflection, dialogue and solidarity, with open conversations that matter.

🎭 ‘After Speaking Up: What Justice Looks Like for Women in Cinema’

Panellists: Bina Paul (film editor & curator)
Miriam Joseph (film producer & former journalist)
Rima Kallingal (film actor, producer & dancer)
Moderator: KK Shahina (media entrepreneur and NWMI member

Welcome Address: Saraswathy Nagarajan
🌟 Chief Guest & Keynote Speaker
KR Meera (acclaimed novelist and former journalist)
📰🎥🖋”Media at the crossroads:
Independence vs influence”

The evening opens with a chenda melam and features conversations that centre around women’s experiences, resistance and collective strength within cinema and beyond.

Eminent personalities will discuss vital issues facing these important aspects of life and society. 🎥🎞️
This public meeting brings together voices from cinema, culture and journalism to reflect on what justice, accountability and change look like for women in the film industry.

✨ Join us for a Public Meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala ✨

If you are in Thiruvananthapuram on 7 February, do make your way to the star-studded public meeting organised by the NWMI as part of its 20th national meeting (marking the network’s 24th anniversary).

A timely conversation on working with AI – without losing the values that shape responsible journalism.
#NWMI2026 #NWMI20NationalMeet #NWMIInKerala #AIAndJournalism #MediaEthics #WomenInMedia #FutureOfNews #StoriesThatMatter

🎙️ Moderator: Ayswarya M
👥 Panellists: Divya Arya, Azeefa Fathima, Dheeshma Puzhakkal, Ramya Kannan, Jayanti Buruda and Sushmita V

The second half opens into a panel discussion on the ethical challenges of AI in journalism, focusing on bias, transparency, accuracy, accountability and editorial decision-making, using real examples from Indian newsrooms.

This 90-minute members-only session is divided into two parts. The first features short, practical demos, where journalists walk us through how AI fits into their everyday work – what it helps with, where its limits lie and why human editorial judgment still matters.

From news gathering to newsroom workflows, AI is already shaping how journalism is produced, distributed and consumed. But how are journalists actually using these tools on the ground – and what does this mean for ethics, accuracy and accountability?

🗓️ Day 2 | February 7 (Saturday) 🕒 3:15 – 4:45 PM

📍 NWMI’s 20th National Meeting, Thiruvananthapuram

🤖 From Byline to Bot: Ethical Challenges of AI in Journalism

#NWMI2026 #NWMI20NationalMeet #NWMIInKerala #ClimateJournalism #EnvironmentalReporting #WomenInMedia #StoriesThatMatter