Survey on status of women journalists
STATUS OF WOMEN JOURNALISTS IN THE PRINT MEDIA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pamela Bhagat
INTRODUCTION
The project on the ‘Status of Women Journalists in the Print Media’ was initiated by the National Commission for Women to look into issues affecting the role of women working in the print media. As part of a broader study on working women in
The objective of the research was to examine the problems and issues confronting women working in the media, to gauge the extent of direct and indirect discrimination in the workplace and to identify contemporary issues that need to be addressed.
METHODOLOGY
The research was coordinated by Pamela Bhagat with the support of media representatives from various regions - Linda Chhakchhuak from Shillong, Rajashri Dasgupta from Calcutta, Sushmita Malaviya from Bhopal, R. Akhileshwari from Hyderabad and Surekha Sule from Mumbai - who together formed a National Study Group. The National Study Group assisted with the design and implementation of the 20-page questionnaire. Usha Rai, Deputy Director, Press Institute of
A brain storming session with a focus group of women journalists in
SAMPLING AND RESPONSE RATE
A total of 410 women working in the print media responded. Although there are no definite figures on the number of questionnaires distributed, estimates put the sample size at approximately 3500. This means the response rate was approximately 11.5 percent. This was one of the most disappointing aspects of the study. There was total non-cooperation to fill in the questionnaire, especially by journalists from the English language national media. Some of them had even attended the brain storming session at the NCW. They kept reassuring that they would complete the questionnaire, but never got down to it. Some respondents said the questionnaire was too long and would require too much time to fill up. Most of the data collected was through personal interaction, which though time consuming, gave many great quotes and observations that women were hesitant to put on paper.
A hundred and ninety respondents from the regional press and 220 from the English press were surveyed. Ten were above the age of 50 while the rest were between 20 and 40. An overwhelming number were employed on contract - 239, while only 60 were on wage board scales. Forty were freelancers and a few were casual employees.
The Survey
The primary input of the study was issues and concerns that emerged from a ‘Brain Storming Session’ of women journalists from the print media. The questionnaire included 11 parameters, 86 sets of indices, 27 variables and was in three languages - English, Hindi and Urdu.
The survey took into account a wide range of issues: from recruitment and job segregation to promotions and work conditions; training and development to childcare and maternity facilities; sexual harassment, union involvement, superannuation and freelancing.
The maze of data under so many different heads with further sub-divisions into specific indices, initially seemed easy to read but proved arduous to analyse. Consequently, all the information was tabulated into more comprehensive nuggets of pie charts and bar charts and also aggregated, both state-wise and at the national level.
The size of the respondent sample (410) and the fact that we had to depend on questionnaires filled and did not necessarily have a representative cross section of journalists, places some limitations on the data. However, the results are important indicators of the views and perceptions of women journalists, especially since their impact on various issues in the newsroom is steadily increasing as their numbers expand.
Even where the numbers are low, as in the regional press, and discrimination between male and female employees is a reality, the study shows that women journalists still infuse their careers with a hopeful and positive attitude. Many of them are committed to contributing to the industry, often against all odds and far beyond the expectations of managements and co-workers. In fact women report that, too many times, their goals are stifled long before they even have a chance to flourish. Despite this the growing number of women entering the media profession and continuing to pursue careers, demonstrates their determination to keep voices of women alive.
As Preeti Misra from Hindustan Times in Jharkhand says, "Though women are well represented in the media their voices are largely unheard. They are supposed to report on the predicaments of society at large but when it comes to themselves, they are seldom heard."
From a historical perspective, women journalists clearly have made great advances in the last two decades - their share of jobs in all media has increased, they are not restricted to fashion, cookery, art and culture but are also reporting from the battlefields, stock market and the Parliament’s press gallery. In fact women journalists are radically changing the media and giving it a broader base by mainstreaming health, environment, social concerns and women’s issues.
Sudha Menon of the Hindu Businessline says she that though she has experienced a fair deal of "fulfillment and professional dignity", her counterparts in other organisations have not been so privileged. "Women journalists are often over worked, underpaid and have very little access to equal employment. In fact a large number of organisations often deny women promotions on the flimsy excuse that they cannot do night duty. Childcare, flexi-hours, a more sensitive approach to the limitations she faces when she is in the child-rearing phase can do wonders for both - the organisation and women employees."
In many cases they have built their careers on the premise that they have to be ‘twice as good’ as their male counterparts just to get their foot in the door. Others report that the stress of working hard to keep up standards, and to forestall any negative expectations, can be debilitating. Alka Kshirsagar from Pune had a similar concern - "Women journalists have to work twice as hard as male colleagues and have to constantly battle suggestions or perceptions that we are using sexuality to get ahead in our careers. We are more vulnerable than male colleagues to gossip, to promotion prospects; and age too is a factor for discrimination."
In the same vein Rashmi Sehgal from
Most of the senior journalists believe they have given their best effort to an industry that simply doesn’t quite know how to utilize their talents, or refuses to allow them to be as outspoken or proactive as their male colleagues. The survey team frequently met women journalists who were working far below their capacities, who may have started off strong but wind up stalling in their careers. Senior Delhi-based journalist Vichitra Sharma said: "I no longer look forward to career advancement as a reporter or network correspondent, something that satisfied me in my thirties. One needs to grow in one’s profession, but if the institution doesn’t give the opportunities needed to satisfy your growth, then you have to look elsewhere."
Observers may conclude that women journalists are still adopting a ‘victim stance’, refusing to acknowledge the many gains they have made because that might mean having to admit there is an even playing field for all journalists. The fact is that there are also those who have developed a tangible strategy for negotiating their careers. They say they are determined to concentrate on their goals, to not walk into every setting expecting to be harassed or discriminated against, and to stay focussed on career advancement.
Latika Shyam shares her philosophy on taking advantage of the opportunities that one finds: "You are what you make of yourself. Take responsibility and be answerable first and foremost to yourself. The industry is more prepared for women moving all the way to the top than it has been ever before. Take advantage of it and go after what you want to do." On the lack of advancement among women journalists, a stronger comment came from a veteran: "Some just believe they are entitled to better opportunities than the rest of the staff and they become disenchanted when they do not move fast enough".
Major concerns that emerged from the study were job insecurity because journalists were employed like daily wage labour, signing a muster at the end of the month to get a pittance of Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 as wages; contract system of employment; neglect of maternity and child-care provisions and sexual harassment. Other issues raised by respondents were:
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"More women are employed in the media now since they are available at lower salaries on the contract system. In such circumstances gender fair reporting and practices are more difficult to promote."
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"After initial resistance, even women journalists start justifying organisational insensitivity. They are instrumental in perpetuating lack of recognition of women’s special needs and functions in society - childbirth, childcare, confinement, security after night duty etc. Many believe the myth that women journalists have limitations within organisations since they cannot do night shifts."
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"Regular dilemma is childcare vs. profession. Effect of work on marital relations differ between male journalists and women journalists."
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"Longer maternity leave is important since confinement and childcare are very demanding on health and emotions. This would usually be required once or twice in all working life so no big deal."
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"Women’s most productive years are also their reproductive years."
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"Women journalists are conscientious, diligent and people relate more easily to us. However, male bosses do not give credit for professionalism -- instead speak of women exploiting their gender."
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"As a profession, very satisfying and stimulating but work environment needs to be egalitarian and encouraging. At present enthusiasm often watered down by unresponsive organisations that are not sensitive to gender specific requirements which are often viewed as liabilities - transport, maternity leave, childcare facilities, rest rooms etc."
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"There is no transparency in policy matters - entitlements, rights and promotion criteria".
An astounding 20.5 percent of respondents said that women were discriminated against for promotion. 45.5 felt it was because of their sex, some felt it was because of age and a large proportion refused to comment - 21.2 percent. In fact 8.4 percent were forced to leave a media organisation due to promotion discrimination.
Evidence also emerged that having children has an impact on women’s work in the media: 29.2 percent of all respondents were sure that having children affects promotion and 37.8 percent felt that this was because of the perception that having children affects women’s ability to put in late hours.
Though most of the respondents had not deferred marriage or pregnancy due to job insecurity, only 56.7 of those with children had availed of maternity leave and a further 10.6 had availed of unpaid or part maternity leave. Reasons for this varied from no such provision, job insecurity and even, not given despite requesting. An astonishing 17.5 percent were not aware of any such facility in their organisation and of those without children, 54.2 percent said that they would avail of maternity benefits in the future if such a provision existed.
During personal interaction sexual harassment emerged as a major concern of most respondents. But when asked whether they had to put up with sexist remarks / gestures or if they had been sexually harassed in any way at their workplace or in association with their work, 22.7 percent said they had, 8 percent said they were ‘not sure’ and many others had either denied or refused to comment. An interesting finding is that, of those who had experienced sexual harassment, 31.5 percent said it had ‘seriously’ undermined their confidence and affected their work, 24 percent said it had ‘mildly’ but an alarming 41.3 percent said it had had ‘no affect’.
These findings show sexual harassment is part of work culture in media organisations in
In regards to working conditions, the overwhelming majority of women (76.2 percent) believe their working conditions are similar to their male colleagues. 10.8 percent said they were better, while 3 percent said they were worse. However, the level of awareness of basic working conditions is very low on some key issues:
1. 31 percent were not aware if any equal employment policy existed in their organisation
2. 29 percent did not know if women were targeted for filling vacancies in their organisations.
3. 19.5 percent did not know whether formal appeal procedures or mechanisms for handling grievances existed in their organisation while 50.7 percent were sure of no such facility
4. 10 percent are not aware of any formal training programme in their organisation while 42.3 said that no such facility was provided
5. 87.6 percent are not aware of any superannuation scheme or believe that it does not apply to them
6. Job segregation was an issue of significance for many of the respondents. 24.7 feel that they do not have access to all areas of work and that lifestyle, arts, gender, fashion and education are traditional areas reserved for women. But 87.3 believe that women have capability in all areas of journalism.
The changes that women want in their workplace include:
- Positions advertised and proper selection and interview procedures introduced;
- Provision of training about equal employment opportunity and gender issues for their male colleagues;
- Transparency in terms and conditions of contract system of employment;
- Childcare facilities;
- Maternity leave
- Insurance;
- An elected (not nominated) body for redressal of grievances.
Interestingly, childcare at work place and insurance cover emerged as the most required facilities. 54.4 percent thought that there had been no development (permanent part-time, flexibility of working hours, special leave, childcare facilities, study leave etc.) at their workplace in the interest of women generally. Only 29.4 percent of the respondents felt that their employers were responsible for changes that had taken place. Most of these were perceived to have been brought about in response to individual demands.
Notwithstanding this, women journalists say they are making the most of what career opportunities they find, while conceding that they may not have the opportunity to reach the kind of high profile beats that male journalists attain. Often, this is because they are "left out of the loop" for various reasons - not available for night shifts as a consequence of which not assigned important beats that often results in being buttonholed into accepting a lesser deal. Or they say that while they might be very successful as assistant editors, a shot at the top job may not come their way because they are not considered ‘management material’.
Just what are the barriers to opportunities for women journalists?
- "Newspapers are high pressure environments where male gender, talent and hustle are incontrovertible tickets to success."
- Women are sometimes hampered because they refuse to assimilate into the work culture. We need to be more aggressive to promote our work."
- "Women journalists face daunting stereotypes about their abilities."