Delegates at a Pacific media conference in Fiji recently shared distressing accounts of female reporters facing threats of violence and harassment. This has led to questions about whether sufficient measures are being taken to protect female journalists in the Pacific region.
In 2022, the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific Journalism Programme, released a report investigating the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment on female journalists in Fiji. The study surveyed 42 respondents, aged between 22 and 51, with an average age of 33.2 years and an average of 8.3 years of work experience. The majority (80.5%) worked in print media, while others were in online or broadcasting sectors.
Most respondents were aware of sexual harassment occurring. Lice Monovo, a seasoned journalist working for the ABC in Fiji, indicated that the findings were not surprising to her. She highlighted that despite women reporting harassment and seeking help from employers, their concerns were often dismissed, and the responsibility for dealing with harassment was unfairly placed on the victims.
Laisa Bulatale of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement noted that many women experienced various forms of harassment, not just at work, but also while carrying out assignments or interviews with high-profile individuals. Many women hesitated to report these issues due to fear of victim blaming and shame.
Georgina Kekea, an experienced journalist and editor from the Solomon Islands, conducted a similar survey in her newsroom, finding that many female journalists shared similar experiences of harassment without adequate support from their superiors. She pointed out that cultural factors in Melanesian society further complicated issues women faced in the workplace.
Alex Rheeney, former news editor of PNG’s Post-Courier and the Samoa Observer, emphasized the severe challenges female reporters encounter, which male reporters often do not face. He advocates for newsroom policies to ensure the safety and welfare of female reporters. He recounted a personal intervention where he had to assist a female reporter in obtaining a restraining order against her husband, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues proactively.
The media industry in the Pacific, Rheeney argued, needs to implement stronger measures to protect female journalists both in the newsroom and during assignments. He stressed the importance of not being passive but actively working to prevent harassment and violence against female journalists.