Particular interest groups influential in media (owners, publishers, advertisers, politicians) have their specific interests in news. Control over the decision which kind of information will be covered by media is in hands of these interest groups and is of crucial importance for society.

Since the media, as well as other social institutions, are male dominated, it is hard to expect that these specific interests will in a broader sense include information related specifically to the whole range of social, economic, cultural etc. aspects of the status of women in society. Also, it is not likely to expect that media will easily change their focuses to include and integrate perspectives of women. Thus, women in media attempting to break through this system of control are extremely important, not only in the times and places of conflict but in general.

ABSTRACT: The concept of peace journalism, first presented in the early 1990s as an antithesis to war correspondence and as an alternative mode of covering conflict, is often dismissed by journalists as a half-baked idea that is inconsistent with professional standards and values.  Proponents of the idea, however, argue that the basic precepts of peace journalism are entirely coherent with the fundamental principles of journalistic ethics: the right, as well as the responsibility, to cover events and processes with fairness and accuracy, and in the public interest.  Such debates presuppose that journalists function without fear or favour, guided solely by the need to uphold the principles and norms of the profession. Does this assumption reflect reality in the era of media globalisation, with the ascendancy of the commercial model of communication, and its intensification under the force of competition and bottom-line pressures?  In a situation where media outputs are increasingly commodified and designed to serve market ends more than citizenship needs, where do women journalists and writers stand? Is there any hope for those who wish to build bridges and promote peace?  What strategies may work in this context?

When we talk about journalists and journalism – should we specify if a reporter is female or male? Probably in many aspects of professional activities this division would be unnecessary. Differences in writing style, in presenting material, in phrase usage, in placing accents – are rather individual than gender ones. And still, in such area as covering traumatic events, disasters and tragedies, we could contemplate the specifics of "women's" journalism.

Mongolia is an Asian country which is landlocked between Russia and China.  App. 2.6 million people live in a territory equaling 1,5 million square km.

Citizens of Mongolia have the rights and freedoms to  free speech, expression and publish guaranteed by the Constitution.
In Mongolia, there are around 400 media outlets and 3,900 working journalists and media practitioners. Nearly 80% are women journalists.  Only in Ulaanbaatar, in capital there are 20 television channels including cable stations(5 national) and 15 national daily newspapers.

Mongolia had a Red Revolution in 1921 and became the first Asian country to embrace communism.  It was declared by the first Constitution in 1924.

In 1990, Mongolia moved to a democracy by peaceful revolution. The democratic Constitution was adopted in 1992.

There were no wars and armed conflicts in our territory since 1939, when the Mongolians with the Soviet Army support fought against Japanese in Khalkhiin Gol. 

During the democratic transition, people have been fighting for their rights and freedoms and organising demonstrations, strikes and hunger strikes. But July 1, 2008 is a day which went down in history of Mongolia as the day that has tested authenticity of democracy and guarantees of human rights.  Mongolia was credited for being one of successful democracy in Asia for the past 18 years, for guaranteeing very crucial human rights under its Constitution as well as ratifying most international human rights treaties and conventions.

What happened on July 1, 2008?

Global Forum for Media Development:
A round-table discussion, 10 December 2008, Athens

Moderator: Nadezhda Azhgikhina (Russian Union of Journalists)
As is well appreciated nowadays, women journalists have become very active in the coverage of wars and conflicts all around the world. For more than twenty years women have reported from every conceivable hot spot in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, demonstrating their courage and professional skills, and drawing public attention to trhe varied and diverse problems of these parts of the world and to the condition of human beings and human values as a whole.