CFWIJ Celebrates World Journalists' Day
Date: October 21, 2020Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
The Coalition For Women In Journalism wishes a happy World Journalists’ Day to journalists all around the world who strive to provide information to the public despite hard working conditions. Independent journalism is indispensable for a democratic society. We once again express gratitude to women journalists who work in crowded courtroom corridors, in natural disaster areas and war zones to convey news accurately and quickly despite threats, attacks, sexual and online harassment.
October 21 is celebrated in Turkey as “World Journalists Day” to celebrate independent journalism. The day is based on the launch of the first private newspaper in the Ottoman Empire, Tercüman-ı Ahval newspaper on 21 October 1860.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented 568 cases of threats in various forms against women journalists since the last 21 October. In Turkey, which celebrates this day the most rampant form of attack against women journalists have been through weaponization of law. Currently there are six women journalists imprisoned for doing their jobs.
Covid-19 outbreak on the other hand has been a threat to journalists not only in terms of health but in terms of their working conditions and job security. After Covid-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, it became the biggest news with journalists across the world focusing their reporting on this global health crises. However, it was not easy for them to cover news related to the novel coronavirus. Several countries across the world obstructed the press from reporting facts related to Covid-19 cases.
Countries like China and Iran, which were known to be initially hit hard by the virus, restricted their journalists from reporting the truth about the number of coronavirus cases in their respective countries. China - where the virus originally broke out - persecuted independent journalists, bloggers and anyone who was trying to disseminate information about the damage done by Covid-19. While most persecutions did not make it to news following China’s restrictions on press freedom, we were able to identify some cases which included women journalists, as well as their male counterparts.
CFWIJ documented at least 68 cases of threats that affected women journalists following the coronavirus outbreak. Some cases involved women journalists slapped with charges for their reporting on the pandemic, while others involved the loss of jobs and attacks encountered while reporting in the field.
In celebrating 21 October, we ask for a safer environment for women journalists around the world.
...
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.