November - December 2019 Issue
In this issue, we took a look at the end of the year, spoke to Molly Molloy and featured some of the most promising women journalists in the industry right now.
Editor
Rabia Mushtaq
Hello folks! Hope 2020 is off to a great start for all of you. With this issue, we take a look back at 2019, with all its highs and lows. It was a year of growth, not just for The Coalition For Women In Journalism but also for me, as I joined a team of extraordinary women committed to support women journalists across the world.
From Turkey to Pakistan, The Coalition rallied to support women journalists through thick and thin. We worked hard day and night to raise our voice against the injustices our colleagues had been subjected to across the world and led advocacy efforts to ensure a safer working environment for them. We have invested enormous amount of time, energy, and on occasion, personal sacrifice to investigate and document the details of each and every case of targeting or violence against women reporters from around the world. Our work has been a testament to our belief in the freedom of the press that we proudly uphold as an organization.
In this bi-monthly, we take you on a trip to CFWIJ’s prolific 2019 and progress into the New Year offering a glimpse into the professional capabilities of women journalists residing all over the globe. The issue also features journalist Molly Molloy, who is known for her expertise on the U.S.-Mexico border and Latin America. CFWIJ fellow Betsy Joles talks about her journey as part of our mentorship program. For all the journalists reading our bi-monthly, we also jotted down some opportunities for you to benefit from.
I hope this issue keeps you all informed and aware about how necessary it is to support women journalists and their work, as well as continue the fight for freedom of press no matter where you reside in the world.
Happy Reading!
Index
In Focus
Eman Mohammed has made a space for herself as one of the few female photojournalists to work in Gaza.
She faces a great many risks, which includes an unsupportive industry, but she continues working to bring forward stories that no man would ever have access to.
Interview - Molly Molloy, Mexico
We spoke to Molly about the Frontera List, border issues, and more.
As a seasoned observer of the U.S.-Mexico border and the Latin American region, Molly Molloy is a force to be reckoned with. Her sharp insight about the political and social dynamics of the region has led her to be known as one of its well-regarded experts. Molly is a research librarian, author and manages the Frontera List – a Listserv that reports on the latest news and discussions about the U.S.-Mexico border issues. We chatted with Molly to understand what it’s like to document accounts of immigrants, stories that never make it to mainstream media, her take on violence and drugs in South America, and lots more. Read on.
The Frontera List is a unique Listserv in how it approaches a vast number of subjects. The US-Mexico border issues seem more prominent because of the Trump administration. How would you say cases have changed in the recent past?
The Frontera List has actually existed for quite a long time in different forms. It was a group of El Paso border people who got together to discuss things via a Listserv. I became a part of the list since the late 90s but kept the list alive using G-mail from the early 2000s and then turned it into a Google news group in around 2008-2009. A lot has changed since then. But having lived here and watched things happen in the local, national and international news, you can see news cycles repeating as time goes along. Because of President Donald Trump it’s created a global interest in what’s happening at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Many of us who live here feel that the border has always been this very important dividing line between the ‘first world’ and the ‘third world’. It creates a really intense place – one of excitement, beauty, pain, conflict, poverty and violence, and awareness about them. By focusing on the border we focus on a place of really great importance. The U.S.-Mexico border is a place that requires focus. Trump just intensifies everything by his antagonism towards people from any place of the world, which is basically not in the U.S. or northern Europe. His vision of other places in the world is dark, difficult, nasty and violent. The way he describes other places makes it necessary for people like us to tell the truth and keep our eyes open.
Given how much media attention the border issue is getting, we know that not all stories make it to the mainstream. Can you comment on cases that may have slipped through the cracks?
I also work with an immigration attorney as a researcher and translator for Spanish speaking immigrants and asylum seekers. The situation of people in immigration detention centres is not as much in the news. People in the U.S. and abroad do not really understand the immigration detention centres. One of Trump’s people called it a summer camp. It’s nothing like a camp; in fact, it is a prison. The companies that run these centres are for-profit corporations. They’re the same corporations that run maximum security prisons for people who have committed serious crimes and people in these centres are treated exactly the same. They wear prison uniforms, eat prison food, they are not provided any educational resources, and are given very few opportunities to visit with families or legal representatives.
These detention centres are very far away from urban centres, where detained people have families. For instance, if a Central American person from El Salvador is crossing the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso, they will probably end up in a detention centre that is a thousand or two thousand miles away from Washington DC or Los Angeles, where they may have family. Mostly, none of these people are able to actually communicate very well with their friends or families while they’re in detention. They can use the telephone, of course, but that is also a private enterprise that makes a lot of money for the companies that provide the service.
As attorneys, we have to talk to clients through a plexiglass window, so we can barely hear. It’s very difficult to even sit in the same room with someone in order to be able to touch, listen or comfort them in any way, and to share their documents, photographs or other documentation as evidence to what has happened to them in their country. Language barrier exists for detained people.
Even though by far, most of the people in the immigration detention centre have never committed any crime, it’s a situation that exists to punish them. There are now an estimated 54,000 people or more detained every single day in the U.S. and people are being deported all the time on a rolling basis. Now, more than 50,000 people can be detained every single day in the U.S. These are things that U.S. taxpayers are paying for. It is an extremely punishing system for people, who are strictly seeking a safer place to live with their families. For many reasons, it’s very difficult for journalists to get inside the prison to tell these stories. It requires in-depth research and investment of time to cover anything from inside the prison. The sensational stories of children crossing the border alone and being separated from parents are extreme abuses that made international news. Whereas, stories of people locked away in distant and hard to get into prisons, go uncalled.
You have been managing the Frontera List since 2008. How has the nature and magnitude of the issues you accommodate on this ListServ changed over the years.
Back in the 90s, we were discussing the abuses in the maquiladora industries in Mexico, we were discussing violence in Juarez, especially violence against women during that time. During the early 2000s, there was a focus on stories about large scale immigration from Mexico into the U.S. by people, mostly men, who were leaving the country for economic reasons and work. The numbers were extraordinary in 2001. Last year when the situation was very bad, only about a million or slightly less than a million people crossed the border. Over the years, Frontera List has gone with the flow of interest in the news. During the past year, the interest has mostly been on immigration, border crossing, caravans from Mexico, people seeking asylum and getting detained in the U.S., and being sent back to Mexico to these very difficult refugee situations. There’s still the issue of violence in Mexico, which is what I’ve been most involved in covering to provide new information to the people on the list.
The violence in Mexico has also changed over the years but it is now almost as intense as it was in the early 2008 during the height of the drug war between drug cartels in Mexico and the Mexican army. I focused on raising awareness of stories that many journalists all over the world have done on this region. It may follow major news but also the ones that fall off the major news media’s radar. Because of the intense coverage of the refugee crisis on the southern border of the U.S., the abuses of the Trump administration and violence in Mexico gets neglected.
“Many of us who live here feel that the border has always been this very important dividing line between the ‘first world’ and the ‘third world’. It creates a really intense place – one of excitement, beauty, pain, conflict, poverty and violence, and awareness about them. By focusing on the border we focus on a place of really great importance. ”
— Molly Molloy
Your work focuses on Latin America, much of which is in turmoil. How would you comment on the threats and safety situation for women journalists in the region?
In the last 30 years, women have gained an incredible amount of status in the society. However, the social structures in Latin America can still be very sexist and discriminatory but not as much as it was in the past. Now, women fill very important roles in the government and in many of the professions, including journalism. Journalism has provided opportunities for women in Latin America to really take an important role in the society that they didn’t have previously. Yet because of the instability in the region now, considering the unstable political situation in countries like Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Ecuador, women have been involved in politics, as well as in journalism as writers, reporters, television personalities.
Women are not going to back off because they have gained a certain degree of equality, which makes them important actors in the society and also puts them in equal dangers with the men that traditionally held these roles. Women are no longer protected, they no longer stay at home, they are on the streets demonstrating, reporting and they are in the government on all sides. Therefore, they can become targets just like men.
Several women journalists in Mexico have been killed over the past several years. Almost always, the government and law enforcement try to make the case personal in order to take their journalistic role out of the story. In most cases, this is not true. People are targeted for their work that puts them in opposition to the people in power and that is becoming more and more frequent all over Latin America.
Mexico itself is one of the worst countries for journalists. We have seen many journalists killed in the last few years, and several others attacked. Can you comment on the ground realities?
I can’t really speak for Mexican women journalists because I don’t suffer from the same dangers that they do. In Juarez, women reporters are very well known and there are only a few who have prominent roles in local media. It would be very easy to know anything and everything about them. Therefore, in addition to the work they may do as journalists when reporting about corrupt politicians or criminal organisations, it’s impossible for them to hide and protect themselves by being anonymous. No one is anonymous in a city like Juarez, which makes the life of a journalist extremely dangerous.
You co-wrote the book El Sicario: The Autobiography of a Mexican Assassin with journalist Charles Bowden. How was the project important for you and why did you take it on?
The initial motivation was the late Charles Bowden. Charles and I worked together to interview this man and we did that over the course of a couple of years. We thought it was important to do this for several reasons. He could talk about the actual way this system of organised crime works in Mexico because not only was he an assassin for the Juarez cartel, he was also a state policeman from Chihuahua with a police academy training. He was a very young boy, who drove loads of drugs across the bridge back in the 1980s and the cartel sent him to the police academy. His life and work, which was horribly violent and lethal, was an expression of a system. So that is how we tried to tell his story.
He wanted to tell this story to warn other young men away from getting into this life. I’ve had people criticise it and also be really glad that this story exists. The people most interested in this story are often school teachers and religious workers, who want to use this story as a cautionary tale or a morality play to warn young people. He was a journalist’s dream. So finding a personality like that and documenting his story was irresistible.
Do you plan to tell more of such stories?
I definitely want to write about some of the immigrants in detention. Being able to tell the stories of these people or let them tell the story. It’s hard for an immigrant, in the legal process or detained, to tell their story honestly and effectively because it puts them in danger. More than 90% of people who seek asylum in the U.S., especially from Mexico and Central America, lose their cases and are sent back to the dangers that they fled from. It is difficult for their stories to get out in all of its fullness because if anything becomes public, they end up being deported. Therefore, this is a sensitive area. It takes a lot of thinking and planning to be able to figure out a way to tell these stories, so as to not do more harm than good.
What are the achievements of Frontera List you would say for journalists, networking and sharing information within the community of journalists?
In some way it has and in other ways it hasn’t. I’m constantly surprised and gratified that people are still interested. There are about 1,400 to 1,500 subscribers. It is pretty interesting to me considering how long I’ve been doing it and the kind of feedback that I get.
One of the other important things is that the list serves as an archive. There are stories saved in this Google archive that could shed light on the stories that are happening right now. I’m a trained librarian and not a journalist, so archiving the stories from the past and what I’d actually like to do is create a real searchable archive of the list. There are ways to make searching more fruitful by putting things online and creating with the help of artificial intelligence tools and algorithms, for easier and better search. I’d like to work with a technical person to create a real, searchable digital archive that can be available to anyone.
It’s also like a giant address book for people who know things about different aspects of the stories that appear on the Frontera List. Journalists probably make at least a third of the list’s membership. I can help journalists find sources in Juarez or somewhere else in the border region that might be able to help them work on a story. It is a project that began with a group of people that I joined in the 90s and kept it going because of my own interest in seeing this continue.
Meet our Fellow
CFWIJ fellow Betsy Joles is an independent journalist based in Beijing, China while her work also connects her to Istanbul, Beirut and Kuala Lumpur.
As a fellow, Betsy was paired with mentor journalist Corrine Redfern as part of The Coalition’s mentorship program. In this video, Betsy shares how CFWIJ’s mentorship program had an impact on her as a journalist, how it helped her navigate the industry and find work as a freelancer in a competitive profession like journalism. Watch the video to learn what mentorship means to Betsy.
CFWIJ’s Annual Roundup
The year 2019 for The Coalition was packed with lots of learning and understanding of issues women journalist encountered almost on a daily basis. In light of all the cases we recorded and issues we came across, CFWIJ led advocacy efforts for our colleagues in different countries, spearheaded mentorship accelerators and kick-started discourse on threats women journalists face. We also participated in crucial discussions on press and media freedom across the globe. Here’s all the places we’ve been to.
March: 17th International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva
Our Executive Director Kiran Nazish took CFWIJ to places this year. While participating at the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, Kiran spoke during a discussion forum titled ‘Women Journalists: Prime Targets of Cyberbullying?’ on March 15, 2019.
Here, she shed light on the onslaught of gender-based violence that women journalists have to suffer from following their professional duties. The enlightening discussion was geared at the way online abuse affected women journalist and why most of the flak they received involved misogynists and state sponsored organized groups of trolls.
The discussion also emphasised on how cyberbullying transferred into the women journalists’ physical spaces in the form of break-ins, fake robberies and assaults. Want to know more about what happened at the festival, watch the discussion here.
March: #StandSpeakRiseUp Conference in Luxemburg
CFWIJ member Zeina Awad moderated two panels at the #StandSpeakRiseUp conference held in Luxemburg from 26th to 27th March, 2019. The first panel was focused on survivors of sexual violence, while the other looked at conclusions of the day with other prominent names including Mara Marinaki, Lord Ahmad, Esperande Bigirimana, Peter Maurer, Pramila Patten, Bernadette Sayo and Michelle Bachelet lined up as panelists.
March: #FIFDH19 Hackathon for Human Rights in Geneva
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Web, The Coalition participated at the #FIFDH19 Hackathon for Human Rights. Organized by Open Geneva and Le Temps, where discussion tackling ‘Internet, Open Source and Human Rights’ was underway. Our Executive Director Kiran spoke about developing a tool to report threats and attacks against women journalists in the field. The discussion pointed towards an urgent need for practical solutions like apps and tools to help women journalists excel in the profession while ensuring their safety and dignity.
April: Internet Freedom Festival in Spain
At the Internet Freedom Festival in Spain this April, CFWIJ’s team including our Executive Director Kiran and Global Coordinator Luavut Zahid were both part of a panel discussion focused on growing censorship in Pakistan and similar trends around the world. The discussion was based on the background of Luavut’s satire portal Khabaristan Times, which was banned by Pakistani authorities in 2017. Finding solutions to evade censorship and maintaining one’s safety and dignity were brought under discussion at the panel that included Pakistani journalists Taha Siddiqui and co-founder Khabaristan Times Kunwar Khuldune Shahid.
April: United Nations Women in Media panel in the Netherlands
During the Women in Media panel hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the United Nations’ Headquarters in April, CFWIJ member Jennifer Percy participated in a discussion on women’s issues and the need for visibility. In a world where women are reluctant to own their narrative and feel at ease, the discussion focused on the need for media to create safe and welcoming spaces for them.
April: International Journalism Festival in Italy
In April, our member Shereena Qazi participated at the International Journalism Festival (IJF). During the Journalism 101 session, she talked about the way journalists take risks to report important stories. She co-hosted the session with journalist Benazir Karim where both looked at worrying statistics regarding journalism graduates not getting jobs after completing their degrees. An all-encompassing discussion came through where they spoke about the need to help fresh journalist find their place in the industry.
During another session at the IJF, our member Annie Kelly also hosted a session around thematic newsrooms and impact journalism. Our #HeForShe member Alan Soon was also showed up at the festival discussing entrepreneurship and new start-ups in reshaping journalism.
Our advisory board member Hannah Storm was also part of several panels shedding light on #MeToo stories, work life balance and ethics of journalism at the annual festival. Tania Karas, our 2018 fellow presented her exciting newsletter project Give Me Your Tired during a panel focused on migration reporting.
July: CFWIJ delegation meets Human Rights Minister in Pakistan
In July, The Coalition’s delegation in Pakistan met with Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari and presented a resolution for the protection of media workers, particularly women journalists, in the country. During our meeting with the Dr Shireen, we shared a list of action items and step that were required to address online harassment, threats, abuse, fear and censorship that journalists were facing in Pakistan. The Minister condemned the abuse and harassment directed towards journalists, especially women journalists and talked about the Prime Minister’s position against elements perpetuating vitriol behavior.
July: CFWIJ delegation meets the Federal Ombudsperson against harassment at workplace
Our delegation also met with Kashmala Tariq, the Federal Ombudsperson against harassment at workplace and shared our concerns regarding harassment of women journalists both inside and outside the workplace this summer.
We also spoke regarding the challenges they face within newsrooms and how difficult it is for women journalists to report in the field given their vulnerability to harassment when working on the ground. The Federal Ombudsperson agreed to collaborate with us on sensitizing media organization with the help of seminars and interactive sessions, and extended her support for working towards creating an inclusive and conducive environment for women journalists.
October: CFWIJ Founding Director attends Feria del Libro Chihuahua in Mexico
In October, our founder Kiran Nazish was invited at the Feria del Libro Chihuahua (Chihuahua Book Fair) in Chihuahua, Mexico, where she delivered a keynote lecture on The Dangers Faced by Women in Journalism. She highlighted the work done by The Coalition and the organization’s efforts to support women journalists beyond borders.
November: CFWIJ hosts two Mentorship Accelerators
In November, we hosted a Mentorship Accelerator around challenges and solutions for Pakistani women journalists in newsrooms at the Institute of Business Management in Karachi, Pakistan. Senior journalists Afia Salam and Lubna Jerar Naqvi shared their years-long experiences and advice on how to overcome the different obstacles journalists, especially women journalists encounter in the profession.
Afia suggested participants to look towards new digital media initiatives, adapt to changes and overcome growing job security in the industry. Talking about the gender imbalance in Pakistan’s journalism industry, Afia stressed on the need for women to be in leadership roles. Lubna laid emphasis on the issues women face, which their male colleagues must understand and act as allies to help them sail through the obstacles. She spoke about ensuring one’s safety when working both off and on the field, instead of putting oneself in danger.
The associate professor of IOBM’s Media Studies department, Dr Erum Hafeez was also present during the discussion that kick-started an important conversation about making the industry as inclusive as possible for women journalists.
In November, we organized a Mentorship Accelerator for Digital Security and Safety at the Bahria University in Karachi, Pakistan. CFWIJ’s Global Coordinator Luavut Zahid and Researcher Rabia Mushtaq led the accelerator in order to equip participants with tools and methods to navigate online spaces and reclaim free speech in the digital sphere.
The session began with an overview on threats women journalists face online and the risk they are vulnerable to when working in the field. The risk associated with their publically available data online and how it may be used against them were some of the discussed items during the session. The participants were given a demonstration of ensuring their online safety and security, along with the opportunity of learning must-know hacks to follow in cyber spaces.
December: CFWIJ boosts advocacy in Turkey
While everyone was busy gearing up for the holiday season, our delegation comprised of our Executive director Kiran Nazish, Advocacy Director Sulome Anderson and Turkey Coordinator Damla Tarhan spent their time leading crucial discourse focused on the safety of women journalists and set out to explore collaborations with stakeholders in Turkey. Here’s a rundown of all that happened:
CFWIJ and TGS collaborate for a panel discussion
Following our documentation of cases related to women journalists and the state of press freedom in Turkey this year, we organized a panel discussion in collaboration with the Turkey Journalism Syndicate (TGS) in Istanbul. The discussion highlighted security issues our colleagues have been dealing with in Turkey, especially those who cover national and political beats.
The Coalition has been keeping a close watch on Turkey just like it has been on other countries across the world, following which Kiran spoke about the significance of the organization’s efforts to support women journalists in the country. She also shared bits of information from the research produced by CFWIJ. Sulome talked about her experience as a foreign correspondent covering the Gezi Park movement and talked about the hostile environment that local journalists faced. TGS representatives Şafak Timur and Gülfem Karataş also highlighted the problem they have encountered when working in the field.
CFWIJ met with Republican People's Party (CHP)
The Coalition also met with the women wing of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in Kadıköy, Istanbul. The women council of CHP and CFWIJ discussed possibilities of collaborations to build awareness on issues women journalists encounter. Ideas for creating a better and safe environment for women journalists were also kept on the table. The councilor of CHP Kadikoy Dr. Ayfer Yazkan Kubal and chairman of their Gender Council Canan Murtezaoğlu shared their party’s aim to advance the cause of gender and human rights in Turkey. Throughout the year, we went all out to support our colleagues across the world without any discrimination whatsoever. We’ve raised our voices for press freedom despite knowing the risks it possessed and have condemned oppressors of free speech at every forum we’ve been to. We look forward to continue with our mission this year as well and hope to support our colleagues through thick and thin, come what may.
Roundup Of Threats Women Journalists Faced Between November - December
In the last two months of 2019, we recorded numerous cases where our colleagues were arrested, attacked and impeded in the field, had their work censored by state actors and even allegedly murdered for their professional duties. Following is a recap of all the threats inflicted upon women journalists all over the world:
November: Journalists attacked, intimidated during Azaadi March in Pakistan
Women journalists were attacked, intimidated and stopped from reporting during a protest demonstration in Pakistan. When the protest began on October 27, Syeda Ramisha Ali, a reporter in Karachi was intimidated and insulted twice by protesters who objected women journalists covering the protest. While the protest rally headed towards the capital city Islamabad, women journalists including CFWIJ member Ayesha Tanzeem, along with Shiffa Z. Yousafzai and Annie Shirazi, also faced difficulty while reporting on the ground. They, too, were subjected to impediment and misbehavior at the hands of the crowd.
November: Palestinian journalists face obstruction on WhatsApp
Palestinian journalists were barred from sharing live updates using WhatsApp, following the company’s decision to block their accounts in November amidst the then ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. Journalists were sharing live updates of casualties and destruction in Gaza, which eventually slowed down after the instant messaging application stopped working for them. This suppression of free speech led several journalists from carrying on their duties using then messaging application in the midst of conflict.
November: Woman journalist murdered in Chile
Towards the end of November we were shocked to find out about the murder of Chilean journalist Albertina Martinez. Albertina’s killing took place at a time when Chile underwent mass demonstrations against the country’s government. Albertina was a lighting assistant for Mega TV but she had been documenting the anti-administration protests in Santiago days before she was found dead in her apartment, while her photographs of the protests were also allegedly stolen. Even though details of her murder are still rather murky, our sources at the time in Chile informed us about the investigation going on to find the culprit.
November: Turkey continues to arrest women journalists
In November, two journalists in Turkey, Jinnews reporter Melike Aydın and Mesopotamia Agency reporter Ruken Demir, were arrested with charges of carrying out activity on behalf of a terrorist organization’ after being detained on November 12. Homes of our colleagues were raided, their equipment was confiscated and they were detained. According to latest reports, they have complained about being ill-treated and tortured by Turkish police since their arrests. A lawyer representing the Journalists Union of Turkey shared their woes after visiting the two journalists in prison. Press freedom in Turkey has been under immense oppression last year and several journalists were detained, arrested and eventually sentenced for merely doing their jobs.
Turkey disappointed us yet again by detaining a Mesopotamia Agency correspondent Berivan Altan for eight days. She was taken into custody after a raid on her house in Ankara on November 26, as a result of an arrest warrant issued by the Mersin 3rd Criminal Court of Peace. She was subjected to illegal interrogation during the detention. After her release, Berivan held a press conference where she spoke about being systematically harassed by Turkish police.
November: Woman journalist shot dead in Pakistan
Chilling news also came from Lahore, Pakistan where a 27-year-old woman journalist, Urooj Iqabl, was allegedly shot dead by her husband outside her office on November 25. This was the seventh case of murder The Coalition recorded this year. Some reports suggested that she had separated from her husband who had been torturing her for months soon after their marriage. The alleged murderer told his wife to quit working but she denied. Regardless of what the implications had been behind the murder, impunity still prevails in Urooj’s case similar to what usually happens when journalists are killed at most places across the world.
December: CFWIJ member and fellow maligned by Dutch media’s propaganda
In December, we also came across malicious coverage by Dutch media against our member and fellow Ans Boersma. Ans, who belongs to the Netherlands, was working as a journalist in Turkey but was deported by authorities in January 2018 following the Dutch government’s request, linking our colleague to a terrorist organization. Even since her deportation, Ans’s personal life has been dragged in the mud, especially due to the negative press coverage she has received at the behest of the Dutch media. From being called a ‘jihadi bride’, a ‘brave dodo’ and also an ‘IS chicken’ our colleague has been facing immense negativity by so-called journalists in the Netherlands, who are doing nothing but a disservice to journalism.
Women journalists across the world have faced so much the past year and the cases we have documented left us wretched and, at times, shaken to the core. Nevertheless, we have supported our colleagues through thick and thin no matter how tough the going has gotten. Each day, The Coalition aims to strive hard and works to create a better environment and space for our fellow women warriors. We have moved into 2020 with hopes to make a difference in the lives of our colleagues and also strengthen the cause of press freedom in the process.
December: Women journalists attacked and impeded during mass demonstrations in Lebanon
During the mass anti-government protests taking place in Lebanon, several women journalists were attacked and impeded in the field, as well as harassed online for simply doing their jobs. We closely monitored the events and spoke with a few women journalists who shared about the on-the-ground situation. Women journalists were physically assaulted and threatened in the field, while their equipment including their phones and camera were also said to be snatched away by hooligans. Journalists who called out the president and powerful political parties faced smear online campaigns against themselves.
December: CFWIJ member faced censorship for discussing human rights abuse in Pakistan
CFWIJ member in Pakistan Munizae Jahangir’s show was abruptly taken off air earlier last month. While she was not aware of the reason behind the interruption, the act seemed nothing less than an attempt of silencing a courageous journalist through blatant censorship. The show got stopped midway as Munizae spoke with senior lawyer and politician Latif Afridi on call to highlight the issue of missing persons in Pakistan to commemorate the International Human Rights Day on December 10.
December: Peruvian radio journalist Sonia Alvarado found dead
On December 9, 2019, Sonia Alvarado – a journalist based in Peru – was found buried in a ditch in Carabanchel after she went missing on December 7. When the 28-year-old’s body was found, it had visible signs of blows and strangulation. Sonia worked as an announcer at Radio Láser and was also employed in the public relations department of Datem del Marañón’s municipality. The major suspect in her murder case is her ex-husband Felipe Cáceres Rodríguez, who is also said to be allegedly involved in the crime of illegal logging – an issue the journalist was investigating. Reports suggested that the suspicion grew stronger following the threats Sonia had been receiving by her ex-husband.
Badass Women Authors
All of us have known at least one woman who has had an impact on our lives. We know them as mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and even lovers. But the relationship between women as sisters and friends is a rather fascinating phenomenon. Written by Daisy Buchanan, The Sisterhood celebrates the bond between sisters and female friends. In this witty and honest memoir, the author gives an account of her own relationship with her sisters, which is anything but basic and boring. There’s friendship, insecurity and jealousy but most of all, there’s love. The book celebrates all the ways in which women connect, support, encourage and empower one another. We suggest you give it a go for some feel-good, enjoyable reading.
It is not just men who have delivered inspirational speeches over centuries, women have also used the power of words to bolster positivity. This book celebrates the voices of such strong and powerful ladies. From Benazir Bhutto’s fierce speeches to Greta Thunberg’s revolutionary ones, this book is a compilation of the greatest speeches written and delivered by women of substance. Compiled by Labour politician Yvette Cooper, She Speaks is a must read if you’re looking for some much-needed inspiration. We highly recommend reading this extraordinary book, as you’ll be nothing short of motivated to get on your feet and conquer the world.
It is no surprise that the modern world is tailor-made for men, whereas women have to struggle in every realm of life. From the car you drive to the phone you use and the medical devices you rely on, none of it is designed keeping women in mind. This is a proof of how the world today is run by men and is ignorant towards women. In Invisible Women, writer and activist Caroline Criado Perez puts forward some detailed facts and data about the gender gap in today’s world. In case you didn’t know about the everyday struggles women face to get recognised in this man’s world, this book will tell you all.
In this incredible collection of her nine debut essays, Jia writes using a rare blend of astuteness, wit and boldness. The author digs the forces that distort our understanding, representative of an unmatched artistic potency and serious agility. The book will take you on a memorable and informative journey through the path of self-delusion streaming in our lives. Knowing how to see and understand oneself with clarity happens to be a key takeaway of the brilliant work by Jia, as she writes in light of the numerous haunting realities of our times without losing her sense of humour. We could not recommend reading this book enough, so off you go.
This useful handbook is available online for journalists to read and understand the sensitivities when reporting on violence against women and girls. Launched by UNESCO in November 2019, the publication helps journalists cover gender-based violence from the lens of humanity. The way violence against women and girls is covered in media must reflect the concerns of the society and raise awareness against a heinous crime, which is often shrugged off. It is one’s job to highlight the issue and break the silence on gender-based violence as a journalist, and this handbook will help you do that more thoughtfully.
CFWIJ In The Press
Women Journalists Safety Panel
In December 2019, The Coalition Organized A ‘women Journalists Safety Panel’ In Istanbul In Collaboration With Tgs. Our Founding Director Kiran Nazish And Advocacy Director Sulome Anderson Represented The Coalition While Tgs Was Represented By Its Women And Lgbti + Commission Member Gülfem Karakaş And Şafak Timur. The Turkish Press’ Anticipatory Coverage Could Be Spotted In Rudaw And Bianet.
While The Panel Itself Got Covered By Jinnews, Mesopotamia Agency, Medyascope, Özgür Manşet, Bianet, Eşitlik Adalet Kadin Platform, And Pakistan Today, All Of Which Shared The Key Findings Of Cfwij’s Report On Turkey. The Features Also Highlighted The Work Cfwij Has Been Doing In Turkey To Ensure All Kinds Of Support For Turkish Women Journalists And Press Freedom In General. You Can Watch The Coverage Of The Panel Here.
CFWIJ’s Meeting With CHP’s Women Wing
The Coalition’s Team Met With The Republican People's Party Women Wing To Explore Future Collaborations In The Country. The Meeting Was Covered In Various Turkish News Platforms Including T24, Gerçek Gündem, Krt Tv, And Pakistani Publication Pakistan Today. The Coverage Shed Light On Collaboration Ideas Between Cfwij And The Chp’s Women Council Towards Building Awareness Around Issues That Women Journalists Face In Turkey. The Coalition Was Also Featured In Eşitlik Adalet Kadin Platform, After They Held A Meeting With Gülseren Onanç, The Founder Of Equality, Justice, Women's Platform And Eda Doğançay, Editor Of The Website, For Discussing Future Collaborations On Projects And Exchange Of Ideas Around Making The Environment Safe For Women Journalists.
Mentorship Accelerators
Cfwij’s Team Was In Karachi, Pakistan To Conduct Two Mentorship Accelerators In November 2019 And Got Some Much-needed Coverage For Their Efforts To Create Awareness Regarding Safety Of Women Journalists In The Country. The First Mentorship Accelerator Focused On Overcoming Challenges Women Journalists Face In Pakistan Was Featured In Dawn, The Nation And Pakistan Today. Another Mentorship Accelerator, Based On Digital Security And Safety For Journalism Students At Bahria University, Was Again Covered By Dawn, The Nation And Pakistan Today.
CFWIJ’s Founding Director At Felich 2019 In Mexico
After Our Founding Director Was Invited To The Feria Del Libro Chihuahua In Mexico To Deliver Keynote Lectures And Take The Work Of The Coalition On The Platform Of Felich 2019. Her Talks Were Largely Covered In Local Mexican Press, Including A Piece Titled ‘pakistani Journalist Kiran Nazish Comes To Chihuahua By Elpueblo.com, Along With Publications And News Platforms Including Referente.mx That Featured Kiran’s Talk About The Dangers Women Journalists Face In Mexico In Detail Here. Our Founding Director’s Career, Journalism Work In The Midst Of Conflict Regions And Efforts Of Cfwij Were Highlighted In Larevistancg.com, Notiregion.com, Elpueblo.com, And Vivirenjimenez.com. The News Platforms Also Focused On How Cfwij Is Looking To Bring In More Women Journalists From Chihuahua Under The Organization’s Banner.
Opportunities For Journalists
DW Akademie’s journalism traineeship (Worldwide)
DW Akademie is accepting applications by young people from all over the world for their all-inclusive and quality journalism program. The candidate must have journalism experience or should be someone who is passionate about switching to the profession from law, economics, science or technology/IT. They must have completed a university or college degree and since it is a bilingual traineeship, so anyone with excellent knowledge of English and German can apply. Applications close on January 24. For details on how to apply, visit DW’s website here.
World Press Institute’s Fellowship (Worldwide)
Want to become a World Press Institute (WPI) fellow? Then wait no more, as the organization is inviting applications for their annual fellowship program where hundreds of talented journalists compete for the 10 coveted slots. The applicant must have at least five years of full-time employment in print, broadcast or online journalism. They must be working as a non-U.S. journalist outside of the United States of America. Fluency in both written and spoken English is compulsory and they must possess the potential for leadership. To get further details and familiarity with the application process, visit WPI’s website here.
NYU’s Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award (Worldwide)
The Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at the New York University is welcoming applications for the Matthew Power Literacy Reporting Award for Spring 2020. The Award is a grant worth $12,500 to support an early-career non-fiction writer whose work uncovers the reality of human condition. You’re ineligible to apply if you’re an NYU affiliate, an NYU graduate with your degree dated 2018 and after, and a journalist holding staff posting at an established media outlet. If you want to apply for the program, prepare a proposal and send it no later than February 19. The successful applicant will be announced in late April. Find details here.
Global Health Journalism Grant (Germany and France)
The European Journalism Centre is welcoming pitches by journalists in Germany and France can now apply for a grant to report on global health, health policy and issues related to development in developing countries. Their stories will then be published in German and French publications, respectively. The grant is open to all journalists, whether they are working as staff members or freelancers anywhere in Germany and France. Grantees will receive an average €15,000 including travel and technical expenses. Applications close on February 5, so apply before time runs out. For details about the grant, click here.
The Southern African Journalists' Bursary (South Africa and Germany)
The International Journalists' Programmes (IJP) is offering a bursary to six young South African and five young German journalists. The South African delegates will get an opportunity to work in Germany and incorporated within their journalism industry and research on stories for their home media. Journalists must be fluent in English and German language abilities, though not mandatory, will still be beneficial. The bursary is worth €3,000 and in order to apply for this program, you must be aged 25 to 40. Deadline to apply is February 15. Visit IJP’s website for further details.
Reuters Institute Fellowship Program (Worldwide)
As one of the most prestigious opportunities for mid-career journalists, the Reuters Institute’s fellowship program allows them to explore journalism comprehensively without worrying about their day jobs. This fully-funded fellowship accepts around 30 journalist fellows worldwide and you can be one of those spending their time the Oxford University’s study facilities and research centers. If you have a minimum five years of journalistic experience and can provide evidence of fluency in English, then apply before February 3. Find details here.
IAPA Scholarship Program (US, Latin America, Canada)
Professional journalists and journalism students aged 21 to 35 can apply for the Inter American Press Association’s scholarship. Get an opportunity to study at universities accredited by the Latin American Council for Accreditation of Education in Journalism and Communication. Scholars will also receive US$20,000 for their time at the school, along with reimbursement for a round-trip airfare in economy class. You must be native to countries in North and South America to be eligible to apply for the scholarship. If you’re one then get started and prepare to apply by January 31. Look for more details here.
Go-To List For Hefat
by CFWIJ
Are you a journalist working (or planning to work) in a hostile environment? Here are all the hostile environment and first aid training courses you can avail in 2020. We have created a comprehensive list of courses for women journalists looking for hands-on training. Use these courses to become better prepared, both physically and mentally. Go read.
Photo Credit: BBC
Photo Credit: RISC
Courses Open To Journalists Worldwide
HEFAT Course by Blue Mountain: Blue Mountain is offering their ‘4 Day Intensive High Risk HEFAT Course’ in multiple windows from January to June this year in the UK. Register your interest and get your space secured here.
HEST Course by European Broadcasting Union & Objective Travel Safety: Held in Germany on a regular basis, the Objective Travel Safety’s Premium Hostile Environment Safety Course in conjunction with European Broadcasting Union will prep you well. Find out all about the dates of their five-day HEST courses and refreshers here.
HET Course by RPS Partnership: Based in the UK, the RPS Partnership is offering seven Hostile Environment Training Courses this year.
RISC Training: Journalists actively working in conflict zones and based anywhere in the world can apply to receive training by RISC, a non-profit organization dedicated to train freelance conflict journalists in battlefield first aid. Their 6-day safety course is currently open for applications.
Global Journalist Security’s 3-Day HEFAT Course: For journalists operating in high-risk areas, Global Journalist Security have their three-day courses lined up in Washington DC this year.
Open Briefing’s HEAT and HEFAT courses: Open Briefing also conducts HEAT and HEFAT training time and again. Contact them here to book a course or find if they are scheduling courses this year. They are based in the UK.
Course by HET: HET in Hampshire offers HETT, HETC, HEAT and HEFAT courses. To book the one that matches your job requirement the most, check their website.
AKE International’s HET courses: AKE International is offering HET training courses in January and February, based in the UK. For available dates and registration details, find all the relevant information here.
ACOS Alliance Standard Safety Training’s HASP course: Journalists all over the world can apply for the ACOS Alliance Standard Safety Training by filling their form available online.
Training courses by HASP: HASP also offers a variety of training courses for journalists. To avail the course contact them here.
Lazarus Training’s courses HET courses: Operating in the UK, Lazarus Training provides skills and knowledge to guide media workers survive in hostile settings. You can call and book your course by calling on the number provided on their website. Details about their Hostile Environment Training can be found here.
Courses Open To Journalists Worldwide
IWMF’S HEFAT course in the US: In the lead-up to the presidential elections in the U.S., the International Women’s Media Foundation is offering a series of security training, specifically for women journalists. The IWMF HEFAT course will take place from April 9 to 12 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The deadline to apply for the course end on February 16. The training is only open for journalists based in the U.S. Finds details here.
Courses for Journalists in Europe
Separ International’s HEAT Course: Avail Separ International’s HEAT Course in the UK during January. Further details here.
1st Option: The Safety Group’s Courses: 1st Option: The Safety Group’s training and refresher courses for journalists in the UK can be booked here.
Courses for Journalists in South Asia
1st Option: The Safety Group’s Course: Their training and refresher course in Afghanistan can be booked here.
Separ International’s HEAT Course: Avail Separ International’s HEAT Course in Afghanistan during January. Get details here.
Courses for Journalists in Africa
HET Course by RPS Partnership: RPS Partnership is conducting the HET training twice in Niger in February. Find details here and here.
Global Journalist Security’s 3-Day Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid - Conflict/High Risk: The 3-Day Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid - Conflict/High Risk course will be conducted by Global Journalist’s Security will take place in Nairobi, Kenya towards the end of January.
Separ International’s HEAT Course: Avail their HEAT course in Kenya during February. Learn more.
These are some of the most useful courses for journalists serving in conflict areas. Being prepared for the complexities that present themselves during your trips, and good luck.
Women Journalists To Look Out For
Editors, employers and colleagues looking for recommendations, here are some women journalists covering stories on the ground with the expertise and insight that may significantly improve the quality of journalism you are looking for in the said countries. If you'd like us to help you get in touch with them, shoot us an email.
Lebanon: Luna Safwan - Former CFWIJ Staff
Former Cfwij Staff Member Luna Is A Lebanese Journalist Based In Beirut. Her Reporting And Insight On Lebanese As Well As Regional Politics Is Beyond Impressive, Placing Her In The List Of The Most Kickass Journalist In The Middle East. She Is Currently Working As An Independent Journalist Currently Reporting For Vice Arabia And Was Formerly Associated With The Telegraph. Luna Earlier Worked With The New Arab And Also As An Editor For Raseef22. We Ought To Be Proud Of Our Former Staff Member Because She’s Also A Winner Of The Samir Kassir Award From 2013 For Her Story On The State Of Syrian Refugees In Aarsal, Lebanon. If You’re Looking For A Dynamic Journalist With Immense Awareness Of On-the-ground Situation, Luna Is Your Best Bet!
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Pakistan: Annam Lodhi - Former CFWIJ Staff
Annam Lodhi Is A Former Staff Member At Cfwij And Has Been Working As A Journalist Based In Islamabad, Pakistan. She Is Currently Working At Soch – A Bilingual News Community. Previously, Annam Was Associated With Pakistani Publication Pakistan Today And Has Also Written Stories For Several Publications. Annam’s Forte Lies In Covering Social Issues, Human Rights, Technology, Civic Issues And Press Freedom. You’ll Also Find Annam Dabbling In Lifestyle Journalism And Also Find Her Writings On Subject Often Hidden Behind The Taboo Curtain In Pakistan. She Is A Dynamic Professional Who Know How To Ace At Her Job As A Journalist.
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Greece And Turkey: Tania Karas - CFWIJ Fellow 2019
Our 2018 Fellow Tania Karas Is A Digital Reporter And Editor Covering Immigration For Pri’s The World Based In The U.s.. She Was Previously Associated With The As A Staff Reporter For The New York Journal And Refugees Deeply As Its Managing Editor. As An Independent Journalist Tania Has Reported On Human Rights And Global Migration From Turkey, Greece And Lebanon. From 2015 To 2016, She Was Also A U.s. Fulbright Fellow Covering Europe’s Refugees’ Crisis In Greece. Tania Is A Co-founder Of A Newsletter Give Me Your Tired, Focused On Refugees And Migration.
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Mexico And Spain: Ana González - CFWIJ Member
Ana Is A Journalist And A Documentary Photographer/filmmaker. She Is Currently Based In Australia And Has Previously Covered Asia Since 2016. Ana Worked As A Staffer At An International Press Agency And Later Pursued Work As An Independent Journalist/filmmaker. She Has Also Co-founded A Paris-based Creative Production Firm La Realidad. Ana Focuses On Diverse Stories. From Covering Hijabis Playing Metal To The Nomadic People Of Mongolia, Ana Has Taken An In-depth Look At Social, Cultural And Humanistic Stories Using Her Gift Of Storytelling In Both Visual And Written Forms.
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CFWIJ Tip Sheet On How To Be An Insta-savvy Journalist
Do you know how many people across the world use Instagram? You better not gasp finding out that the photo and video sharing platform has approximately one billion active users around the world, while the number of its daily active users is 500 million. Imagine the impact of your stories when shared using Instagram to its true potential. If you’re a journalist and not on Instagram, get on it ASAP and if you already are using the platform, you can totally ace at it with the help of these handy tips and tricks.
Stick to your niche
Don’t be that person who has a chaotic Instagram feed. Stick to your niche by sharing what represents the work you do. If you’re a journalist covering women’s rights or climate change and want your content to reach your audience, then make sure your feed speaks that out loud.
Crush it with hashtags
Posts shared with at least one hashtag can get you 12.6% more engagement. Categorize the type of content you're sharing with hashtags. For instance, if you use #humanrights, then users who follow the hashtag will find your posts easily.
Take your followers behind the scenes
If you’re working on an exciting story, interviewing interesting people or covering an important event, take your followers behind the scenes. Make videos and photos, share on Insta stories giving your followers a glimpse into your work life.
Stand out with Instagram stories
Using Instagram stories can get you new followers. Adding hashtags and location will filter your story for followers who are interested in similar content. You can use emojis, GIFs and colourful fonts to share videos and photos to make your stories stick out.
Discover new stories to tell
Instagram is a book full of diverse stories. People share photos and videos symbolic of their culture, society, and identity. The platform gives you the opportunity to explore the lives of people you may want to cover in the future.
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