No offence intended

Press, 22 April 1977, Page 10

No offence intended

I The United Women’s Con-, 'vention does not intend any! | criticism of the media in its i request for woman reporters to cover the three-day meeting in Christchurch at Queen’s Birthday week-end, ' according to the convener of • the publicity committee (Mrs Peggy Koopman-Boyden). - In Christchurch particularly, the media had shown a very helpful interest in the i convention. The request was the result of concern for some of the women attending the con-i vention. Past experience at' conventions in Auckland and.Wellington had proved that)’ the presence of male report- | - ers during some inhibited free- discussion. 11

. This was particularly so in ' workshops with a more inTima.e, personal subject. “We have found many, if not most women find it easier to talk about very deeply-felt concerns, fears, or anxieties if men are not present,” said Mrs Koop-man-Boyden. Some workshops were; closed to the media, but it I was very difficult to tell in advance just which workshops would become sensi-j jtive. Much depended on the ■women attending. i The women themselves! [were not goint to be 'allowed to move around, .once workshops were under) I way. But 'the organisers' [were prepared for the pres-! ence of reporters wishing to! cover several workshops al

i day to disturb the confer--!ence a little. The policy of asking for f|women reporters was con-. -Isistent with previous con-' r’j ventions. The organisers) .•understood that because the! 11 convention was taking place.' - during a holiday week-end: the news media would be! si working with reduced staff. ! t “But we have thought, i perhaps naively, that there - are now sufficient women ■ [journalists for our request s not to cause problems with .other assignments. We are.) s|of course, sympathetic with ; journalists who have sought l.to eliminate discrimination in •| their work. Our main cons'cern, however, must be for •I the women attending the 11 convention,” said Mrs Koop-iman-Boyden. i