There is general consensus that media practitioners need to take responsibility for their actions, and need to do this by among other things, regulating their own individual and collective actions. Although the media mirrors society in all its facets, it also largely remains under society’s spotlight. Just as we are on record as ZINEF that the media cannot repeatedly flout journalism ethics and standards as they will lose the public’s confidence and threaten their own existence, so too are we today reminding ourselves as a profession that we should fight sexual harassment within and outside our newsrooms.
Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) supports efforts to remove sexual harassment in all its facets as it faces both women and men in the media. Just as we support media self-regulation under the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ), as the best method of promoting accountability while protecting media freedom, we believe that the majority of journalists in this country should account for any harassment that has been done and remains within the industry. We are proposing that media women’s protection and equality should be aspirations that we work towards as journalists committed to freedom of expression.
Over the years, allegations of sexual harassment of mainly female journalists have been made. While we are still far away from a situation in the industry where this issue is outlawed, we believe as ZINEF that this is an important step forward and will support any efforts towards a sexual harassment free workplace environment. We do this as a body because not only does sexual harassment affect those who are affected, it in most cases, compromises the media, which ends up being painted with the same brush. The problem also inevitably affects productivity, which should be a concern for everyone in the media – within the newsroom and outside, journalists or practitioners.
We note the general belief that sexual harassment is a normal part of media work and reiterate today that this is simply not true. We understand that sexual harassment is ‘an unwelcome sexual advance. It can be a request for sexual favours and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature’. What is important to understand about sexual harassment is that it is uninvited and unwanted. Sexual harassment or sexual abuse is not about sexual pleasure. Sexual harassment is a display of unequal power relations – it is about asserting power.
Legally, sexual harassment is identified in the Labour Relations Act as an unfair labour practice. The Criminal Law and Codification Act can also be used to charge one with sexual harassment, although it is not specific. The media, like any other profession, subordinates itself to the laws of the country and while a specific law on sexual harassment does not exist, we believe that the Labour Relations Act is clear on outlawing the practice.
ZINEF firmly opposes sexual harassment which has no place in an accountable and responsible media which is demanding for democracy and media self-regulation in Zimbabwe as represented by VMCZ from its social partners. The role of media owners, editors and journalists is to work to eradicate sexual harassment within our midst. This can be done first by adopting policies that outlaw sexual harassment, among other violations of freedoms. Secondly, the media should set up structures to investigate internally complaints raised by staff including those of harassment by sources. Thirdly, the media should act against those proved to have sexually harassed colleagues, regardless of their position.
The media also have a role of cooperating with the Federation of African Media Women Zimbabwe (FAMWZ) in its programmes to remove gender based discrimination and facilitate a work environment that is conducive to female and male workers. As we have supported VMCZ’s self regulation as a form of behaviour modification so too are we extending that to sexual harassment. Self-regulation among the media in relation to sexual harassment works best if the main sanction is simply the public shame in having broken the code. The internal investigating structures in media outlets must publish all the findings. If upright journalists, male and female, can secure our trust by saying NO to sexual harassment, they will also secure their future through a highly productive staff.
Against increasing potential for costly lawsuits and court cases in sexual harassment, as ZINEF, we encourage the media owners and editors to be pro-active and prevent any such incidences. It therefore gives me great pleasure, as the Chairperson of ZINEF, to launch this book What Should I do, Who can I tell? – Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.
I THANK YOU
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