Getting the balance right: gender equality in journalism; 2009 - Fokus

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High stress levels, bullying andharassment, unacceptable workloads,and anti-social working hours pressureworking mothers into part-time, temporaryor freelance positions. This in turn putsthem in even more vulnerable positionsin terms of job security, promotions, legalstatus and ability to share the same rightsas contracted colleagues.The EAJA reports that in Eastern Africa, some media houses“violate rights of women journalists such as presenting them assexual objects; sexual harassment, intimidation, abuse, undervaluingor ignoring their work, successes, efforts, rights and by symbolicallydestroying or frustrating them”.Sexual harassment remains an unspoken problem. Unnecessarytouching, sending of unwanted emails, text messages, display ofpornographic pictures in the workplaces, sexual comments etc, aregenerally considered as forms of sexual harassment, the impact ofwhich can have a debilitating effect on the personality, working lifeand social behaviour of the person harassed.In some countries, these problems are often compoundedby poorer access to training and education, systemic or hiddendiscriminatory practices (such as curfews and lack of child care),harassment and overt sexism in hiring practices.Significant progress has been made in recent years in womenbreaking into the war correspondents club, previously the preserve ofmen. While this is welcome employers must consider the extra risksfaced by women in conflict zones. Not only are they subject to thesame dangers as their male colleagues, but they also face additionalthreats of sexual violence, intimidation and gender discriminationeven when it comes to risks protection with women forced to use illfitting safety equipment designed for male shapes and sizes only.According to the International News Safety Institute (INSI) surveyon Women reporting war in 2005, over 82% of the women surveyedreported physical attack or intimidation whilst covering conflict.Outside court, three journalists and thepublisher of India’s Midday speak out againsttheir conviction for “contempt of court”.© Midday Publications, Delhi6 GENDER EQUALITY IN JOURNALISM
It is also now widely recognized that anyone regularly coveringtraumatic events or working with severely traumatized people is alsoat risk of suffering long term mental health problems and may needaccess to professional support.Tips for journalists to promote gender equality in the mediaLeadership: map your workplace. To get a fair understanding of thelevel of women leadership in your media, try the exercise belowand share the results with your colleagues and your union. Themore publicity, the more likely it is to change mindsets.RankManagementEditorsReportersPhotographersAdministrative staffNumberof men% men Numberof women% womenTry and analyse the results: what would you like to achieve? Why?How? What means do you have? How can you unite forces?Equal opportunity legislation should ensure that women journalistsget the same access to jobs, promotion and training opportunities asmen. Check the ratification by your country of the Convention on theElimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)which ensures that all workers get equal opportunities.Pay audits may be the only way to find out whether there is a genderpay gap within a company. The key here is anonymity and solidarity andideally should include as many employees or freelances as possible.Health and safety assessments are useful tools for assessing the depthand degree of the risks faced at work. Health problems such as backpain, eyesight, stress and Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) resultingGENDER EQUALITY IN JOURNALISM7
Page 2 and 3: Publisher information: Internationa
Page 4 and 5: FOREWORDThe designation of gender e
Page 6 and 7: PREFACEOne of the greatest challeng
Page 8 and 9: “[Gender equality] does not mean
Page 10 and 11: Journalism is no exception. Inside
Page 12 and 13: While statistics show that more and
Page 16 and 17: from poor work practice can go unad
Page 18 and 19: AVOIDING SEXUAL ABUSE OF WOMEN REPO
Page 20 and 21: Sarah Rainsford reporting for the B
Page 22 and 23: The GMMP says that womenare more li
Page 24 and 25: (A good check is to ask yourself if
Page 26 and 27: IFJ Guidelines for reportingon viol
Page 28 and 29: Fariba Khani, Social Desk Reporter,
Page 30 and 31: Women in journalists’ unions (IFJ
Page 32 and 33: Learn about women rights that exist
Page 34 and 35: join a union if women issues are ta
Page 36 and 37: GENDER MAINSTREAMING“Mainstreamin
Page 38 and 39: Push for gender equality provisions
Page 40 and 41: Camerawoman at the 1 st Congress of
Page 42 and 43: Who Makes the News?Global Media Mon
Page 44 and 45: http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/c
Page 46 and 47: International Federation of Journal
Page 48 and 49: Institute for the Advancement of ab
Page 50 and 51: Harassment may be characterised as:
Page 52 and 53: Formal ProcedureAt any time, whethe
Page 54 and 55: ANNEXE BIFJ GENDER POLICIESPASSED A
Page 56 and 57: with employers; consultation rights
Page 58 and 59: to make it a top priority of the IF

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