Women in media speak out against online abuse and gender-based harassment

Young people in the media industry holding positions are victims of online platforms, receiving negative comments every day.

This has been highlighted by Navtarang/Radio Sargam Editor, Rashika Kumar during the panel discussion at the Women in Media conference.

Kumar shared the impacts and consequences of technology-facilitated gender-based violence on women in media, and that she has personally been a victim of such violence.

She says people comment on the way announcers dress, their appearance, behaviour, speaking style, and even the size of their foreheads.

Kumar also acknowledged the Human Resources mechanism at their workplace, where they can speak to their managers and then to HR, who can connect them with counsellors for professional support.

She adds that in her case, she always discussed the issue with their News Director, and once they had a conversation about it, that was usually the end of the matter.

Internews representative Arianne Olegario says misinformation and defamation are common forms of online attacks targeting women in the media.

Olegario says many people claim women journalists should stay home because they are not good writers.

She says the attacks are not about who they are, what they report, or why, they are being targeted simply because of their gender.

Meanwhile, Tajeshwari Devi from the Online Safety Commission says for their strategies, they liaise with the platforms for the removal of the content for any online abuse which is the first approach.

Devi says that at first, they need to ask the survivor how they would like to proceed, and if they want the post removed, the commission can assist in removing the content, because in some cases, survivors do not wish to take the matter any further.

In response to Devi’s comments, participant Lice Movono raised a question about the Online Safety Commission’s plans to enhance its regulatory and prosecutorial powers over technology companies.

Movono also highlighted the need for stronger measures to combat online abuse and ensure a safer digital environment for all Fijians.