Journalism and Sexual Harrassment

Sokwanele (Harare)

30 May 2011

guest blog

Surely if the responsible authorities do not intervene in the high numbers of sexual harassment cases which have just been reported by young female journalists aspiring to penetrate into the mainstream media industry, very few of them will realize their dream of becoming editors one day.

The licensing of new media players by the Zimbabwe Media Commission was a milestone achievement and well received by journalists but it’s not the same to young female journalists who have become victims of harassment in the work place.

A number of young female journalists coming from college have raised complaints that they are being asked to go out with some of the editors of these newly established newspapers if they want to get employed. This is vey sad given the vulnerability of such young girls, especially considering how desperate they are get the job which they trained for.

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists which during the World Press Freedom Day Commemorations announced that because of such reports it received from female journalists it has established a team which will look into the issue and deal with it once and for all. The Union says the gender mainstreaming committee it has given the investigative task will soon visit newsrooms, after conducting workshops with journalists educating them on issues of sexual harassment at the workplace.

One of the significant dangers of sexual harassment in the media and any other places are that the victim may end up exposed to HIV &AIDS.

AllAfrica – All the Time