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The Backstory S1E4: It's personal - female journalists facing harassment, and what to do about it

Article ID:

21806

Journalism can be a dangerous job, and for female journalists, there is the added layer of sexual violence. Even when they are not working on stories that put them in physical danger, they face harassment and threats online. This episode looks at the specific threats that female journalists face - in the field, online and in the workplace - and what they, and the profession, can do about it.

In this episode of The Backstory, WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Director, Andrew Heslop, and the production team speak with:

Stella Paul, a freelance journalist from India, about how she deals with threats and attacks as she covers climate change and its effect on vulnerable women. Find her work for the Inter Press Service here.

Elisa Lees Muñoz, Executive Director of the International Women’s Media Foundation, which is conducting research on online harassment of women journalists in the US, with TrollBusters.

Stina Hofgaard Røsjø, Head of administration of VG Media which publishes Norway’s most-read newspaper online, and which completely rethought its sexual harassment policy following the stories coming out of the #MeToo movement.

The Backstory production team includes Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode.

Music in this episode by Swelling.