Women in journalism

Illustration: Unsplash.com / The Climate Reality Project

Many artists and athletes have since spoken out about their own stories of abuse. Male and female journalists have called on female colleagues to speak openly about sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. The Journalists' Unions of the Athens Daily Newspaper also encouraged its members to speak out.

Despite that the majority of journalists in the Western Balkans are women, they still face gender-based discrimination and abuse and often do not feel secure in speaking out due to fears of losing their jobs or reputation and not receiving the necessary support, an online panel discussion organised by BIRN was told on Thursday.

Even though the vast majority of reporters in the Balkans are women, top management positions are still dominated by their male counterparts and more needs to be done to ensure equal representation, an online panel discussion organised by BIRN on Tuesday was told.

Female journalists feel unsafe working in at least 40 countries, a new report released Monday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) concluded.

Most of the female journalists listed sexual harassment as the biggest issue they face in their home countries. Nearly 85% of the respondents said the harassment is common; 30% said it often leads to sexual assault.

Panelists Marija Arnautovic, from Radio Free Europe, Martina Mlinarevic, a writer and freelance journalist, Dalija Hasanbegovic Konakonvic, from Al Jazeera Balkans, and Biljana Radulovic, an attorney, tackled some of the biggest problems facing women journalists in the country in their daily work.

From: "That brunette had a great question" to: "Wouldn't it be better for to find a job from 9 to 5 - so you know when you're coming home and can plan your time, like everybody 'normal'?" to: "Make a career? Nonsense! Get a hold of yourself, look after your children and your man!", this is the range of observations that many women journalists hear in North Macedonia.

In the last three years, meanwhile, the Association of BH Journalists recorded 50 threats and attacks on female journalists in the country. It may also be assumed the real number of attacks and threats is far higher, as many cases go unreported.

The Balkan region is no exception, and while Vojtehovski received a measure of justice, others say they see little point in complaining to employers or the police given what critics say is a systematic failure to punish the perpetrators, according to the findings of a BIRN analysis.