Undervalued and abused: Real-life experiences underline frustrations of the female journalist
AIPS Seminar “The Cost of Reporting while Female“ comes to an end on July 30 with the final session on “THE GENDER BACKLASH“. (Photo by Pixabay)
LAUSANNE, July 29, 2020 – The first AIPS women’s digital seminar comes to an end on July 30 but its refreshing impact on participants will definitely last a long time and feature significantly in the fight for gender equity in the media.
Women and men of different backgrounds and cultures have been joining the Zoom meetings from almost every corner of the world, amid the global pandemic, to address this common issue of gender disparity, together. And all the panelists have been inspiring.
Following engaging sessions on UNDERREPRESENTATION, THE FORGOTTEN and PAY GAP, the final session of the seminar will focus on THE GENDER BACKLASH, which will tackle sensitive issues like sexual harassment.
Below are some experiences shared with AIPS, of which some sources have asked to remain anonymous. These stories cover the topics of the AIPS women’s seminar series.
“I THOUGHT A JOURNALIST SHOULD BE A MAN OF HONOUR”
I started working in a local news agency post-graduation; I was very passionate about sports journalism and quite curious about everything by nature. I started to learn in my first few days at the agency the work dynamics in newsrooms, the vibrant and swift communications overwhelmed me but I was eager to learn more and make my own name in media, although I felt bad for accepting to get paid less than the minimum wage determined by the Ministry of Labor in my country (which is illegal).
But I decided to overlook it because I needed to gain some experience at that time and I wanted a place to kick-start my career as a journalist.
The first days of working as a junior reporter I was just shadowing other journalists while they work in order to learn and started to gradually become more independent, a while later the manager asked me to go to his office at 5:00 pm to ‘teach’ me about work, 5:00 was the time everyone leaves, I went to his office while he gave me this lecture about how journalism started, and how things work in our country and how corrupt and unfair it could be. One subject led to another, while I was listening and consuming all the info like a sponge. Things ended up with him suddenly turning on some music and asking me to dance while approaching me, I was shocked, felt offended, and I instantly carried myself away and never came back; actually, I never came back to the profession until recently.
I felt like this flame of passion inside me was set down because I thought a journalist should be a man of honor, I did not report the incident nor even told anyone about it, not even my family. They’d blame me; because I belong to the weaker gender in my world, and he’d get away with it anyways because he had important connections and he’s from a well known family.
That was my first personal experience with journalism, which I’m not very proud about.
“I LOST MY BEARINGS”
From an app developer, computer graphic designer, today I’m a sport journalist thanks to a friend, a Chief Director based in Benin, who graciously offered to train me and I remained the correspondent of his media outlet in my country Togo.
In my quest for stability in the field of journalism, I asked some officials for work, one of them was favourable and we discussed the offer and the requirements. But to my surprise, the next time I went to his office, he wanted to have sex with me. I was so badly treated. He did not miss the opportunity to insist and threaten me even over the phone.
These gestures marked my mind and I devoted myself more to my other areas of expertise. I love the press but I've lost my bearings with these acts. Thanks to those who really helped me.
KADIATOU TRAORE - Guinea
“WE ARE CONSIDERED A SECONDARY ELEMENT”
The female journalist in the sports field is exposed to many factors that suffocate her and make it harder to practice her profession fully and comfortably.
We receive minimal wages and more attention is paid to male colleagues rather than treating both genders with equality. We are considered a secondary element.
From my experience I succeeded in breaking this rule when I entered the stadiums and started commentating along with other male commentators.
Currently, I am considered a professional editor, reporter and commentator. But this has not stopped some people from giving me strange looks. I remember at one of the games a man offended me by saying: “women like you are in the wrong place, you should stay in the house or be a commentator for the streets.”
AMNITOU MOSTAFA - Mauritania
“FRUSTRATION IS RIFE EVERYWHERE”
Working as a sports reporter in newsrooms is very challenging. Frustration is rife everywhere - from our fellow reporters to technical staffs and drivers - and women are victims of discrimination in this profession, which has become the preserve of men.
Personally, I have experienced several cases of frustration, but the one that prompted my tears was the interview with a CAF emissary, which disappeared from the server a few minutes before it was to be broadcast.
Our most fervent wish is that the top management of radio, television and print media take responsibility so that in every sports desk, women are at the centre stage.
MEMADJI TAMBERT FLORENCE PERPETUE – Cameroon
“SPONSORS ARE NOT ATTRACTED”
I'm a sport journalist from Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 2008 I have been a commentator of football, basketball and handball matches, but I didn't have a formal training. I've learned by doing.
Discrimination is our daily life because we are women in this world of sports. At least when we work hard, we are recognized and we earn our place.
I am the chief editor of an online and print magazine, but sponsors are not attracted because we mainly talk about female athletes.
Another fact I have noticed from my experience is the problem of language. English is preferred to French.
LAETITIA EHUZA DEMBO - DR Congo
“I HAVE HAD ZERO PAY”
I would like to share my experience as a woman athlete. I'm a member of FEI (Federation Equestrian International). As an endurance rider, I was the only girl who travelled every weekend to nearby countries to join endurance races, without team to compete in. And every summer I travelled to European countries for endurance races. My family has supported me.
In my country there are a lot of men in equestrian clubs but they don’t care at all about women and they think this sport is for men only. They support men and pay for them, but for me after 10 years of experience, I have had zero pay.
I see men with us in the same race of 120km distance, they get paid and women nothing at all.
After 10 years I decided to give other girls out there a chance to compete as team, and not face what I have been through. I spoke to the head of Sport Authority and suggested to him about having a department of women equestrians. He has really been supportive and welcomes any idea I have to improve equestrian in Kuwait and help women practice horse riding.
He imposed a new rule that every equestrian club in Kuwait must have a department for women equestrians and gave me the responsibility to become the first head of women equestrian.
I never gave up and I know there are a lot of men out there who can help women to make a change. I have inspired change but the issue of pay gap still exists.
DEMA KHALED – Kuwait
Women and men of different backgrounds and cultures have been joining the Zoom meetings from almost every corner of the world, amid the global pandemic, to address this common issue of gender disparity, together. And all the panelists have been inspiring.
Following engaging sessions on UNDERREPRESENTATION, THE FORGOTTEN and PAY GAP, the final session of the seminar will focus on THE GENDER BACKLASH, which will tackle sensitive issues like sexual harassment.
Below are some experiences shared with AIPS, of which some sources have asked to remain anonymous. These stories cover the topics of the AIPS women’s seminar series.
“I THOUGHT A JOURNALIST SHOULD BE A MAN OF HONOUR”
I started working in a local news agency post-graduation; I was very passionate about sports journalism and quite curious about everything by nature. I started to learn in my first few days at the agency the work dynamics in newsrooms, the vibrant and swift communications overwhelmed me but I was eager to learn more and make my own name in media, although I felt bad for accepting to get paid less than the minimum wage determined by the Ministry of Labor in my country (which is illegal).
But I decided to overlook it because I needed to gain some experience at that time and I wanted a place to kick-start my career as a journalist.
The first days of working as a junior reporter I was just shadowing other journalists while they work in order to learn and started to gradually become more independent, a while later the manager asked me to go to his office at 5:00 pm to ‘teach’ me about work, 5:00 was the time everyone leaves, I went to his office while he gave me this lecture about how journalism started, and how things work in our country and how corrupt and unfair it could be. One subject led to another, while I was listening and consuming all the info like a sponge. Things ended up with him suddenly turning on some music and asking me to dance while approaching me, I was shocked, felt offended, and I instantly carried myself away and never came back; actually, I never came back to the profession until recently.
I felt like this flame of passion inside me was set down because I thought a journalist should be a man of honor, I did not report the incident nor even told anyone about it, not even my family. They’d blame me; because I belong to the weaker gender in my world, and he’d get away with it anyways because he had important connections and he’s from a well known family.
That was my first personal experience with journalism, which I’m not very proud about.
“I LOST MY BEARINGS”
From an app developer, computer graphic designer, today I’m a sport journalist thanks to a friend, a Chief Director based in Benin, who graciously offered to train me and I remained the correspondent of his media outlet in my country Togo.
In my quest for stability in the field of journalism, I asked some officials for work, one of them was favourable and we discussed the offer and the requirements. But to my surprise, the next time I went to his office, he wanted to have sex with me. I was so badly treated. He did not miss the opportunity to insist and threaten me even over the phone.
These gestures marked my mind and I devoted myself more to my other areas of expertise. I love the press but I've lost my bearings with these acts. Thanks to those who really helped me.
“IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT”
Since 2006, I have been working for Radio Télévision guinéenne (RTG) as a sports journalist, but I admit that it has been difficult. I have been discriminated against on a number of occasions, whether in the office or in the field. An example: one day my boss forbade me from entering the studio because I refused to go out with him and this lasted in the period that he was my boss, but I remained in my position and I always refused his advances. I was persecuted, wounded and even humiliated but I held on and today I am where I am thanks to my personal effort and perseverance. This is an example of many.KADIATOU TRAORE - Guinea
“WE ARE CONSIDERED A SECONDARY ELEMENT”
The female journalist in the sports field is exposed to many factors that suffocate her and make it harder to practice her profession fully and comfortably.
We receive minimal wages and more attention is paid to male colleagues rather than treating both genders with equality. We are considered a secondary element.
From my experience I succeeded in breaking this rule when I entered the stadiums and started commentating along with other male commentators.
Currently, I am considered a professional editor, reporter and commentator. But this has not stopped some people from giving me strange looks. I remember at one of the games a man offended me by saying: “women like you are in the wrong place, you should stay in the house or be a commentator for the streets.”
AMNITOU MOSTAFA - Mauritania
“FRUSTRATION IS RIFE EVERYWHERE”
Working as a sports reporter in newsrooms is very challenging. Frustration is rife everywhere - from our fellow reporters to technical staffs and drivers - and women are victims of discrimination in this profession, which has become the preserve of men.
Personally, I have experienced several cases of frustration, but the one that prompted my tears was the interview with a CAF emissary, which disappeared from the server a few minutes before it was to be broadcast.
Our most fervent wish is that the top management of radio, television and print media take responsibility so that in every sports desk, women are at the centre stage.
MEMADJI TAMBERT FLORENCE PERPETUE – Cameroon
“SPONSORS ARE NOT ATTRACTED”
I'm a sport journalist from Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 2008 I have been a commentator of football, basketball and handball matches, but I didn't have a formal training. I've learned by doing.
Discrimination is our daily life because we are women in this world of sports. At least when we work hard, we are recognized and we earn our place.
I am the chief editor of an online and print magazine, but sponsors are not attracted because we mainly talk about female athletes.
Another fact I have noticed from my experience is the problem of language. English is preferred to French.
LAETITIA EHUZA DEMBO - DR Congo
“I HAVE HAD ZERO PAY”
I would like to share my experience as a woman athlete. I'm a member of FEI (Federation Equestrian International). As an endurance rider, I was the only girl who travelled every weekend to nearby countries to join endurance races, without team to compete in. And every summer I travelled to European countries for endurance races. My family has supported me.
In my country there are a lot of men in equestrian clubs but they don’t care at all about women and they think this sport is for men only. They support men and pay for them, but for me after 10 years of experience, I have had zero pay.
I see men with us in the same race of 120km distance, they get paid and women nothing at all.
After 10 years I decided to give other girls out there a chance to compete as team, and not face what I have been through. I spoke to the head of Sport Authority and suggested to him about having a department of women equestrians. He has really been supportive and welcomes any idea I have to improve equestrian in Kuwait and help women practice horse riding.
He imposed a new rule that every equestrian club in Kuwait must have a department for women equestrians and gave me the responsibility to become the first head of women equestrian.
I never gave up and I know there are a lot of men out there who can help women to make a change. I have inspired change but the issue of pay gap still exists.
DEMA KHALED – Kuwait
News from the same category
