Inspiring Journeys: From Breaking News to Breaking Barriers

Summary

In this engaging conversation, renowned journalist and managing editor of Network 18 Media, Paly Sharma, shares her experiences and insights on women's empowerment, financial literacy, and the challenges faced by women in journalism. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging women's contributions to society and the necessity of education in STEM fields. Sharma also highlights the role of media in shaping history and the impact of on-the-ground reporting. Her advice to aspiring journalists is to educate oneself and to market one's abilities, drawing from her own journey and the inspiration she finds in her mother's resilience and dedication to education.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Paly Sharma, an award-winning journalist and managing editor of Network 18 Media, shares her experiences and insights on women's empowerment and journalism.
• 💬 Empowerment for women requires acknowledgment, freedom of choice, financial independence, and the ability to express opinions.
• 🕒 Challenges faced by women in journalism are universal and industry-agnostic, with long and demanding hours that can be physically and mentally taxing.
• 🏆 Despite the presence of many women presenters, newsrooms are still a man's world with more men in decision-making positions.
• 🚀 Paly Sharma emphasizes the importance of having more women leaders to appreciate and understand the challenges faced by women in the workforce.
• 🌍 The need for financial literacy and independence is crucial for women, with a staggering percentage of Indian women lacking bank accounts.
• 💼 Paly Sharma advocates for the teaching of financial literacy as a life skill in schools and the need for women to manage their finances effectively.
• 🔍 Journalism chose Paly Sharma, and she is passionate about telling stories that are palatable, accessible, and reflective of the India story to a global audience.
• 📰 The impact of being on the ground during breaking news or conflict provides a perspective that cannot be gained from a studio, shaping the journalist as an individual.
• 🌟 Paly Sharma's role model and inspiration is her mother, who balanced education, work, and family while teaching her children the importance of values and determination.

Q & A

What does Paly Sharma hope to see in the future regarding Women's Day?

Paly Sharma hopes to see a time where the world doesn't need a Women's Day to recognize the place of women in society, and that empowerment comes from more than just marketing drives, fancy quotes, and cupcakes.

What are the key elements for empowerment according to Paly Sharma?

According to Paly Sharma, empowerment requires acknowledgment for one's contributions, freedom of choice, freedom to express opinions, financial independence, and control over one's life.

What challenges does Paly Sharma face as a woman in journalism?

Paly Sharma faces challenges such as long and demanding work hours, physically and mentally demanding situations, and a newsroom culture that is still largely a man's world, with more men in decision-making positions.

How does Paly Sharma describe her journey to becoming a managing editor?

Paly Sharma describes her journey as challenging, noting that women are often judged on their performance while men are judged on their potential. She emphasizes the need to prove oneself deserving of one's position and to push for one's case, going against the common belief that talent alone will be recognized and rewarded.

What drives Paly Sharma's passion and purpose in storytelling?

Paly Sharma's passion in storytelling is driven by her desire to present news stories in a palatable and accessible way, to tell the India story to the world, and to ensure that the stories she tells excite and engage her audience.

Can you share any memorable interviews or breaking news stories from Paly Sharma's career?

One of the memorable interviews for Paly Sharma was with Pervez Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan and Army Chief, conducted in Dubai. She also mentions covering conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of being on the ground to truly understand the impact on people's lives.

What does Paly Sharma believe is the importance of financial independence for women?

Paly Sharma believes financial independence is crucial for women as it provides them with control over their lives and the freedom to make choices. She also highlights the need for financial literacy as a life skill that should be taught, especially to women.

How does Paly Sharma suggest improving women's financial literacy and empowerment?

Paly Sharma suggests that financial literacy should be taught in schools and that there needs to be more support networks for women. She also calls for active intervention to encourage girls to pursue STEM education and for society to transform its expectations of women.

What are Paly Sharma's thoughts on the gender pay gap and women's contribution to the global GDP?

Paly Sharma finds the gender pay gap disheartening and notes that it will take over a century to close. She emphasizes that women contribute significantly to society and the global GDP, and they should be fully compensated for their contributions.

What advice does Paly Sharma have for younger women looking to get into journalism?

Paly Sharma advises young women to educate themselves, read widely, and market themselves effectively. She emphasizes the importance of having a basic understanding of subjects, as this knowledge will help them navigate the demanding world of journalism.

Who does Paly Sharma consider her role model and why?

Paly Sharma considers her mother her role model because of her mother's dedication to education, her ability to balance teaching, raising a family, and furthering her own studies, and the values she instilled in her children.