New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS): Bollywood actress-director Nandita Das Thursday urged Indians to break the stereotype that women cannot share the stage with men in journalism.

Launching a report here on the condition of working journalist, she said women in the rural parts of the country remained confined and are never allowed to work in the field they were interested in.

"There is a need for people in the country to break the stereotype that women cannot share the stage with men in journalism," Das said.

The report was launched by 'Khabar Lahariya' - a rural weekly newspaper published in various regional languages.

The survey highlights the experience of women journalists in rural areas and at the district level, which are very different from those in the urban areas.

The survey was conducted in four states - Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.

The report captures the attitude towards women in journalism outside the big metros, the challenges they face and their own experiences of establishing themselves in the male dominated field despite the dominant discourse that limits their entry or longevity in it.