COVID-19 Led to Increase in Gender Inequalities in Media, Says IFJ Survey

The magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on various sections and communities across the world are different. Studies and reports have shown that the pandemic is further deepening the preexisting inequalities. Journalists too, have been affected by the pandemic-induced crisis. 

A recent survey by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says that gender inequality has increased in the industry across the world after the outbreak of the pandemic. More than half of the respondents who had participated in the survey from June 19-30, acknowledged an increase in gender inequalities in the industry, with devastating consequences on their conciliation of work and private life (62%), work responsibilities (46%) and salaries (27%).

Over 75% of total respondents- 558 women journalists from various countries, among whom 66% were union members- saw an increase in their level of stress and half of them pointed at multi-tasking as a result of COVID-19 as the main cause. More than half of the respondents said their health had been affected which resulted in almost 75% of them having sleeping problems. 

Journalists have been on field to collect various updates on COVID-19, exposing themselves to increased threats. However, for many of them personal protective equipment kits were a luxury. As per the survey, only 4 in 10 women journalists claimed that they received protective equipment from their employers. Also, more than half of the respondents claim unions have not developed any specific strategies to tackle gender inequalities during the pandemic. 

Total 60% of the respondents said their industry had provided some form of protocol for teleworking, while over 75% of respondents said the level of harassment (including online) and bullying has not increased during the crisis. A third of the respondents claimed that they worked “mainly from home” and another third has worked mainly in the office. While, 15% worked mostly in the field. 

Also read: Amid Pandemic, Verbal Lay-offs and Pay Cuts Expose State of Indian Media

Working in isolation, bullying from bosses, family caring and home schooling, domestic tensions, increased workload and the usual tight deadlines, long working hours, psychological impact of COVID-19 coverage, fear of job loss along with other issues have been listed out by the respondents as the cause of stress. 

“I fear losing work. Some media house have closed down or cut their contributors and decreased their middle-top level salaries. I am afraid my office will close too. I am also stressed about internet connection and strong attention in front of the laptop all day/night,” said a journalist from Indonesia. 

“In every heterosexual couple I know, the woman has borne the brunt of the situation,” a journalist from Spain said as per the report, adding, "Women are working from home, juggling childcare and educating children alongside their job. Some have taken reduced hours to cope with this, others have had to risk their vulnerable parents' health for childcare instead of the father taking on anywhere near half of these duties.”

Journalists participated in the survey stressed on improving teleworking protocols such as the need for employers to provide adequate working equipment including adequate bandwidth, define working hours and breaks, and understand the reality of working from home while caring for children.

They also denounced the focus on profit and competition which would exclude work on gender and change media priorities, and the most precarious situation of women which make them worst affected by social plans and paid less.

Also read: Women’s Employment Amid a Pandemic: What Are We Missing?

“Striving for gender equality must be tackled as a priority. Balance between private and working hours should be clearly stated. Wage-equality is to be considered the new ' normal',” a photographer from Switzerland said.

While IFJ Gender Council Chair Maria Angeles Samperio said, "Media and unions must do much more to tackle gender inequalities and take into account the conciliation of work and private life in these turbulent times. They must hear the calls from women who have been deeply affected by stress during COVID-19 and respond to it. It is time to set up proper teleworking policies, ensure support is provided to women as family careers and provide decent work and equal pay."

Covid-19 Impact on Indian Media houses

The impact of COVID-19 on Indian media houses has been unparallelled. From decrease in the subscription of print copies to decrease advertisement revenue, many media houses across the country have been ‘forced’ to scale down their operations or even shut down.

These media groups reportedly used the lockdown due to the pandemic as an opportunity for mass retrenchment. “Media owners are claiming that they are severely affected by the lockdown, that circulations and advertising have fallen and therefore they are resorting to these measures,” said a statement by Delhi Union of Journalists and National Alliance of Journalists expressing shock at “reports pouring in of sackings and pay cuts in the media at this critical time.”

Also read: Journalists’ Unions File Petition in SC Against Media Companies, Allege Using Lockdown for Lay-offs, Salary Cuts

They added that, “In 2016 the media industry misused the demonetisation decision to enforce mass retrenchments, and today some media companies are threatening to turn the lockdown into a lockout.”