The whole of March is Women’s History Month and not only that, on Monday, we will celebrate International Women’s Day.
Women’s History Month aims to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It began in 1978 as just a week-long event but was increased to one month in 1987. March 8, International Women’s Day traces its roots back to 1909 after the Socialist Party of America organized an event on that date which was then adopted by the feminist movement some years later. The day is typically one of celebration combined with protest and the honoring of womanhood.
For International Women’s Day 2021, I want to talk about women in journalism.
While women dominate in journalism schools, less than half of women are working in newsrooms. In a male-dominated industry rampant with sexism, women find any obstacles put in their way. For example, the hours a journalist works are long and irregular- this means that as women are typically burdened with the lion’s share of childcare and housework, they find it difficult to cope.
Additionally, there is the issue of sexual harassment, sexism, and discrimination from their co-workers. Globally, up to 60% of women say they’ve been sexually harassed by colleagues and almost half said they had been assaulted in some way. In Albania, female journalists say they experience the same but with the added issue of financial insecurity and editorial pressure. Some 80% said they work the same but get paid less than their male colleagues.
And if that wasn’t enough, female media professionals also have to deal with a disproportionate amount of online harassment and abuse. Statistics show women are more likely to be trolled, sexually harassed, insulted, told they are wrong, threatened, and smeared.
I have experienced all of these things throughout my career. It started in Malta when I was writing a weekly column in a national Paper. A group of ‘fake’ accounts would pounce on my article as soon as it was published, making sexist comments, calling for me to be made persona non grata, and even going as far as to doctor screenshots to make it seem like I had said or posted things I did not. They smeared me on social media and even found my mother’s profile and sent her abusive messages. One told her that she should have had an abortion instead of giving birth to me.
For many years, I witnessed Daphne Caruana Galizia be vilified for her work by often, male trolls. They called her ‘witch’, ‘bitch’, and various other names I cannot publish here. She was attacked physically and verbally, both online and offline for her reporting and her take-no-nonsense attitude. I have no doubt in my mind that had she been male, she would not have received so much abuse. But the fact she was female in a deeply patriarchal society, and that she refused to cower in front of the red-faced, bleating, and obnoxious male critics, was something incredibly frustrating for them.
Then in October 2017, they assassinated her. A bomb was placed under her car and it was detonated with her in it, just meters from her home. She died instantly and the first person on the scene was her son Matthew. Today, almost four years later, we still do not have justice
When I arrived in Albania, things went smoothly for a while until I evoked the ire of the government. In March 2019, I was branded a Russian spy and an employee of both the Kremlin and the Albanian Opposition. My photo was published in pro-government media and shared throughout Twitter and Facebook. Within hours, the insults came pouring in; bitch, whore, slut, the enemy of the state, and called for me to be kicked out of the country, while heavily pregnant
I was harassed and berated to the point I had to temporarily deactivate my Facebook account. I was also harassed on the street, pointed at, called horrible names- all while being visibly pregnant.
Then the state took my residence permit approval away and government ministers hinted I was a security risk. The police leaked my personal information to the media, including details about my private life. I collapsed, was hospitalized, and nearly lost my baby, but I decided to fight and not let anyone silence me.
Another very common issue I counter is that of ‘mansplaining’. Having spent days or even weeks on an article including research, interviews, and solid data, a random man on the internet will pop up and tell me I have it wrong, based on nothing other than his belief that he knows best. Women do not behave like this.
I recall one man who inherently believes that part of my job description is to listen to his opinions. The fact I am not the least bit interested in his aggressive and unsolicited views (he works in a totally unrelated industry) has led him to refer to me as “not a real journalist”.
Studies show that men are more likely to think they and other men are “brilliant”, do more work, are smarter, and also to say that gender equality is a myth or has already been achieved. They are also more likely to believe male journalists than their female counterparts.
My point is that as women journalists, we face even bigger obstacles when it comes to doing our job. We are widely considered inferior and less knowledgeable, if we stand our ground we are “aggressive” and “unable to take criticism”, we are harassed and threatened more frequently, and are considerably more likely to be smeared.
I have been lucky with Exit. We are an 85% female team and half of the editorial board is female. This is almost unheard of in Albania and I am proud to be a part of it. As such our team is great with maternity leave, flexible hours to work around childcare, compassionate approaches to each other, and an interest in topics to do with humanity, social matters, and human rights- many of which are ignored by other media portals.
But when I think of my life and career in journalism, the majority of the best and most tenacious journalists I know have been female.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was a one-woman powerhouse that lives on in the mind and memories of millions of aspiring journalists and activists worldwide. The incredible and assertive Caroline Muscat, Editor of the independent investigative portal The Shift News is another example. She has been hounded, threatened, and slapped with legal suits by disgruntled middle-aged men, yet she remains and endures, stronger than ever.
I can also reel off a long list of female Albanian journalists who inspire and motivate me every day.
Klodiana Lala’s investigations have dominated headlines, influenced foreign policies, and sparked nationwide protests. She is a mother of two, has had her home sprayed with machine-gun bullets- nevertheless, she persisted.
Alida Tota, a compassionate, tenacious, softly spoken journalist was ruthlessly attacked after she exposed wrongdoing by Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and his links to the Share Landfill where the body of a child- an illegal worker- was found. She lost her job and had to leave the country for fear of her life. But she returned and nevertheless, she persisted.
Sonila Meco, the host of one of Albanian TV’s smartest shows Tempora, has been smeared, harassed, and doxxed on social media, targeted by impotent politicians, and seen attempting to shut down the station she works at on more than two occasions. She has been attacked more times than I care to remember for the way she looks and for the fact she is a strong, assertive female voice- nevertheless, she persisted.
Rezearta Caushaj who writes for Exit is a powerhouse of assertive articulation. A firm advocate for social and civil rights, and a strong voice against corruption of any kind, she decimates any opponent who stands up against her, be it verbally or with her written words. Despite being censored on TV when talking about several sensitive subjects, nevertheless, she persisted.
Die Morina, another Exit journalist is a mother and a brilliant investigative journalist. One of the peaks of her career- an investigation into illegal extraditions from Kosovo to Turkey was done while she was heavily pregnant. Her investigation was magnificent but pissed off a lot of people- nevertheless, she persisted.
BIRN journalist Aleksandra Bogdani was served a SLAPP from businessman Mire Mertiri after she published fully sourced and factual investigations into his dealings. Instead of silencing her which was his intention, Bogdani fought back and said he is ready to face the court and fight for her right to publish the truth. Despite intimidation tactics from rich businessmen, nevertheless, she persisted.
Then you have Edona Haklaj, a journalist that works with such passion and dedication that I have seen her moved to tears when covering events close to her heart. She is always there in the center of every social and civil movement, reporting with clarity and honesty every single time. Despite being pushed around, dodging gas canisters and scuffles with the police, nevertheless, she persisted.
There are many other female journalists in Albania who I believe are honest, brave, and a credit to their profession. Entenela Ndrevataj at Citizens Channel, Klodiana Kapo at Faktoje, Megi Ndreghoni at Exit, Nensi Bogdani at BIRN, and of course, Flutura Kusari, a legal expert at the ECPMF.
When I think of the work that these women do, I find it difficult to identify as many men that do such a thorough and professional job.
