PRESS RELEASE
Paris, France – WAN-IFRA Women in News (WIN) and City, University of London are now entering Phase Two of a major research study into sexual harassment in the media workplace. In this second phase, the survey will look at the extent of this problem in select Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam.
This phase of the research will run from November 2020 until March 2021, following Phase One which collected responses from Africa, specifically Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
In an initial study conducted by WIN in 2018, a significant gap was identified in the available data on sexual harassment in media specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab Region and Southeast Asia. This new study will look specifically at those regions in order to:
1- Better understand the extent of sexual harassment in the media industry in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab Region and Southeast Asia
2- Contribute to global data on sexual harassment in the media industry, by filling these regional data gaps
3- Enable informed, evidence-based responses to sexual harassment in the media industry
The research will be a combination of a survey of media professionals as well as interviews with media executives. The survey is targeted at media professionals regardless of their gender, hierarchy or whether or not they have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment. It is being distributed to media organisations, regional and national media associations, and industry partners. The interviews will be conducted with media executives focusing on their perceptions about the problem of sexual harassment. Findings will be anonymised and no individual or organisation will be named.
“We are pleased to partner with WIN to address the systemic issue of sexual harassment in the news industry. This is an international crisis that occurs in newsrooms around the world. Having the opportunity to record the personal experiences of news personnel will help us support news organizations tremendously,” said Lindsey Blumell, City, University of London.
“In Asia, many deny that sexual harassment is a problem. But we know it remains pervasive and is therefore underreported. This research will bring out the figures and demonstrate the need for strong workplace policies prohibiting sexual harassment at work,” said Jen Teo, Director, Southeast Asia, Women in News.
“Whatever the form, sexual harassment undoubtedly upsets the victim and can cause emotional harm, and physical and psychological trauma. It also causes decline in work productivity and job satisfaction. It’s therefore in the interest of individuals and of businesses to address this issue directly in their workplace,” continued Teo.
Participants wishing to participate in the Southeast Asia portion of the study and are currently working in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines or Vietnam can do so by clicking at either ONE of the language survey links below:
English:
https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5gOwG2ExJYgaKON
Burmese:
https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7PWw7Vqx1gtFulv
Indonesian:
https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55rjmt3giSBamfX
Vietnamese:
https://cityunilondon.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_00v8LJHblkv11nT
For more information on the study or to register interest in participating in the Arab Region survey visit: http://womeninnews.org/post/149
