Harassment is not part of the job description for women journalists - Tuiketei

Gone are the days when women journalists were told to simply grow a thick skin because harassment is not part of the job description, and the shame and stigma surrounding harassment must stop.

International lawyer and arbitrator Ana Tuiketei made this statement at the inaugural Women in Media Conference in Suva, issuing a powerful call to action and urging media organisations and Pacific governments to address the ongoing challenges faced by women journalists in the region.

Tuiketei, the first Pacific Islander listed as counsel with the International Criminal Court and a Board Director for Save the Children Australia, is a vocal advocate for legal reform, youth empowerment, and gender equity.

She says women in media are powerful agents of change, giving a voice to the voiceless, however, for them to drive change, we must recognise the systemic issues they face.

Tuiketei highlighted two major global issues facing women in media: the gender pay gap and online and offline harassment.

She notes that according to the 2023 International Labour Organization Global Report, the global gender pay gap stands at 20%, implying that, at this rate, wage equality may not be achieved until 2086.

Tuiketei adds that, in media, women are often pushed into lower-paid roles – such as lifestyle or culture – while men dominate higher-paid fields, including politics and investigative reporting.

She emphasises that the International Federation of Journalists has called for clear policies that promote equal pay, pay transparency, and greater representation of women in leadership roles.

Tuiketei also reveals that harassment has become a safety issue, with one in four women journalists globally facing online violence, but in Fiji, that figure rises to two in three.

The international lawyer cited reports from UNESCO and Deakin University in Australia, which show that abuse often comes through social media, especially Facebook - in many cases, it is expressed in local languages and slang, making it more difficult to monitor and moderate.

She reveals that according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, 99% of Fijians have internet access, and 98% own smartphones – meaning that online abuse affects both urban and rural communities alike.

Tuiketei says reporting on gender issues, politics and elections, human rights, and social policy are the top triggers for online harassment of women journalists.

She adds that the Online Safety Commission in Fiji has confirmed that most women who report abuse are primarily seeking the removal of harmful content, rather than pursuing legal action.

Tuiketei is urging employers, media outlets, and governments to treat online abuse as a workplace safety issue, provide support for digital, physical, and mental health, promote pay transparency and equal leadership opportunities, create gender-sensitive newsroom policies, and work with organisations like the Fiji Online Safety Commission.

She also supports UNESCO’s recommendation to appoint digital safety editors and create stronger, more inclusive reporting systems to protect all journalists.

The Women in Media Inaugural Conference is being held at the Grand Pacific Hotel and will conclude tomorrow.