Accra: Dr Abeer Saady, a Physical Safety Trainer and a former war reporter, has stressed the need for media organizations to offer an open-door support to journalists, particularly females who are often harassed in the course of their work. This, she said, was crucial to ensure that journalists were psychologically sound and safe to perform their required duties on and off the field.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Saady highlighted in an interview how journalists, especially female reporters, could manage or curb harassment, which she described as an invasion of boundaries. She maintained that an open-door support or policy allows managers and senior leadership to welcome concerns and suggestions from subordinates without fear of intimidation.
Dr Saady suggested that media organizations could establish counseling and legal aid desks, where journalists could be aided to overcome their fears and troubles confidentially. Apart from the open-door support, she encouraged journalists, particularly females, to set boundaries and be firm with their decisions to prevent being harassed.
She pointed out that journalists, especially females, experienced various forms of harassment such as sexual, physical, and verbal at the office, on the field, and online. Dr Saady mentioned some of the early signs of harassment as casual jokes or comments on appearances and persistent unwanted attention. Other signs include isolation from field assignments or editorial opportunities, and online threats that are dismissed as ‘not serious.’
Some female journalists in Ghana expressed to the GNA how they had been sexually and verbally harassed by their male colleagues. One journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared that she had lost her self-worth and confidence as she was often harassed by her male colleagues due to her physical features. This, she noted, was affecting her work and her relationship with the opposite sex.
Most women and a few men have experienced or are experiencing harassment at their workplaces, homes, and other areas and remain silent due to fear of stigmatization and job loss. It is therefore important to implement policies or support systems to manage or curb these issues to promote a healthy environment for everyone to thrive.