"Never think you can't do anything because you're a woman; everything is open to you as a girl. The future is yours." ~ Christiane Amanpour
Women have been working as journalists - editors, reporters, owners of newspapers - well before the 1890s. However, it took a great deal of courageous stunts to break off those glass ceilings in considerable numbers.
“For many years, women played less visible roles in national and international media, doing their jobs while fighting for their seats at the leadership table,” Ebonee Rice, vice president of the Educator Network for the News Literacy Project, said.
According to UNESCO, nearly 73% of women journalists reported having facing harassment and online violence. In other words, they face increasing online/offline attacks and face a disproportionate amount of threats. This gender-based violence implies stigmatization, trolling and sexist hate speech.
"I am a journalist and a 'new woman' if that term means that I believe I can do that any man can do." ~ Annie Londonderry
Also, women journalists are also targeted violently just for doing their job and reporting the facts in a timely manner. They are not, however, targeted for their views or politics. In fact, such violence is prevailed around the world, especially in India and Afghanistan.
Additionally, journalists can be subject to imprisonment and harsh fines. According to a 2021 round-up published by Reporters Without Borders, a record number of 488 journalists - 60 of which included women journalists - are currently detained worldwide simply for reporting the facts, even when in dangerous places. Another 65 journalists are currently held hostage. In 2021, 46 journalists were killed, a record low in 20 years.
Famous women journalists include CNN international anchor Christiane Amanpour, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, investigative reporter Ida B. Wells and CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward.
Other famous women reporters include CNN's Kaitlan Collins, editor-in-chief of Vogue and global chief content officer for Condé Nast Anna Wintour, 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell and Associated Press White House reporter Seung Min Kim.
Here is a list of organizations and associations dedicated to advocating and empowering female journalists worldwide, as well as supporting those who work or aspire to work in the journalism field.
These organizations/associations provide useful resources on how to handle harassment and they hold different events and webinars for women journalists.
International Women's Media Foundation
The International Women's Media Foundation, located in Washington D.C., is dedicated to unleashing the potential of women journalists as "champions of press freedom," according to their mission statement.
The IWMF has created different programs and grants that provide women journalists with opportunities and training in the news industry. These opportunities include growing as media professionals, gain essential reporting experience and get recognized for their remarkable work.
To address various forms of trauma women journalists go through, IWMF has incorporated self-care exercises into its Hostile Environment and First-Aid trainings. This can help journalists to safely carry on with their professional lives while managing the risks they may face in their work.
For the past 30 years, IWMF has awarded women journalists who have demonstrated courage through their reporting and honoring their press contributions worldwide. This includes the Courage in Journalism Award and the Gwen Ifill Award.
Here is the link to their website: https://www.iwmf.org/
Coalition for Women in Journalism
The Coalition for Women in Journalism, based in New York and founded in 2017, is a non-profit organization that offers mentorships to mid-career women journalists from both Western and non-Western countries. They also foster "support and camaraderie between women journalists around the world."
“The most remarkable lesson I learnt from challenges in my career, was not that I had them, but that I could overcome them,” CFWIJ founding director Kiran Nazish said.
Just like the IWMF, the CFWIJ also provides helpful resources for strengthening mental health for women journalists who are exposed to trauma while covering events, such as car accidents, wars and catastrophic storms.
The CFWIJ has partnered with Society of Professional Journalists, the Fuller Project, the Reynolds Journalism Institute and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.
Here is a link to their website: https://www.womeninjournalism.org/
Alliance for Women in Media
The Alliance for Women in Media was founded in 1951 as the American Women in Radio and Television, which was part of the National Association of Broadcasters. In 2010, it was later renamed to Alliance for Women in Media to "better reflect [the] commitment to all women in the media."
According to the AWM's mission statement, it "connects, recognizes, and inspires women across the media industry." It also provides an annual paid membership that provides women journalists the benefits, acknowledgment and professional training they deserve.
Members can also benefit from the exclusive career center, whether you are a job seeker or an employer.
In 1960, the AWM established an educational foundation, which was the first in professional broadcasting history. This foundation is dedicated to bring positive change to the media, as well as supporting scholarships that benefit students who are aspiring to become future journalists (print, broadcast, or radio).
Every year, the Gracie Awards (named after the late Gracie Allen) recognizes women journalists who have made significant contributions to the industry in all media facets, as well as acknowledge leadership and individual feats.
The most recent Gracies Gala took place on May 24, 2022 at the Beverly Wilshire.
Here is a link to their website: https://allwomeninmedia.org/
"A journalist covering politics, most of us are aware of the necessity to try to be sure we're unbiased in our reporting. That's one of the fundamentals of good journalism." ~ Walker Cronkite
Overall, we need to do more work to make sure women are not excluded in the journalism field and their important work is never overlooked. We also need women journalists to raise their voices and make a great impact.
This also reminds us that we need to put in more effort to make sure young women journalists have opportunities to shine and create a better and news-literate world.
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