A1 Comunication Practices

Violence against women journalists

Responses to violence against women journalists in Italy, Spain and Croatia

References

General context in Spain At the beginning of the year 2000, the arrival of the internet provided an opening to freedom of expression in a country like Spain, which still felt itself in the midst of a communicational reconstruction after 40 years of the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Even so, almost two decades after the beginning of virtual relationships, many women in the Iberian country still feel helpless in the courts in the face of the sexist attacks received. And what is suffered in the networks is one of the many forms of what is suffered in some aspects of daily life. Part of the increase in violence against Spanish women journalists in recent years arose as a result of cases of great diffusion in the public opinion. One of them was the famous scandal called La Manada when five men gang-raped an 18 years old girl. The case had an overwhelming media coverage, since among the evidence there were recordings of the events. And during the course of the trial, women from all walks of the media were in charge of defending the victim and condemning the aggressors on social media. This phenomenon triggered a series of uncontrollable macho attacks and threats. According to a report by Amnesty International at the end of 2017:

• One in five Spanish women (19% of those surveyed) confessed to having been the victim of some type of abuse on networks such as Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
• 27% of those consulted received some type of sexual attack or against their physique
• No less than 52% of that group (one in two) claimed to have had self-esteem problems as a result of harassment.

General context in Italy The World Press freedom Index 2020 ranked Italy in 41 position. “About 20 Italian journalists are currently receiving round-the-clock police protection because of the intimidation, death threats and attacks to which they have been subjected, above all by criminal organisations and mafia networks”. Among them, there are also women such as Antonella Napoli. Moreover, a report of the Italian government, revealed that in 2020, intimidatory acts directed at journalists increased by 87% compared to 2019. In addition, Article 19 expressed a “serious concern over the string of physical attacks, death threats and acts of intimidation against journalists and media workers covering issues related to COVID-19 and recent anti-lockdown protests across Italy. In terms of Internet freedom, Freedom House attributed to Italy 76/100 points in 2021. However, the digital divide gap remains a serious issue in comparison to other European countries. Moreover, Vox -Osservatorio italiano sui Diritti showed that in 2020 women were the main target of online hate speech, particularly, in relation to their profession, confirming the high level of misogyny in the country. Besides, in the first semester of 2020, the number of femicides increased by 5% compared to the same period in 2019. The Italian report of the 2020 Global Media Monitoring Project found that the percentage of news reported by women journalists increased by 11% from 2019 (47% of the total news reported). Women cover mainly national news and the topics of Science and Health, while men cover regional and international news and Crime and Violence stories. Women are the subject of 11% of the stories, 28% of which deal with Crime and Violence. Compared to 2015, the percentage of women journalists active on the Internet and on Twitter increased respectively from 13% to 30% and from 13% to 38%. Finally, the reports highlights the fact that during the pandemic women journalists experienced increased gender inequalities and levels of stress and difficulties in managing their professionals and private lives heightened by a lack of support and protection from media houses, unions and media companies.

Croatia: responses to violence against women journalists Attack on two female journalists during COVID-19 – On April 12, several unidentified men attacked a reporter Zivana Susak Zivkovic and a camera operator Ivana Sivro. According to local news reports, the journalists were attacked while documenting an Easter mass held despite a ban on public gatherings due to COVID-19. Zivkovic suffered minor bruising from the attack. Another man hit Sivro in the arm and shoved her camera, as seen in a published video. Three men were under prosecution for the assault. This was the first report for a criminal offense of threat and attack against journalists as persons of public interest, because of the changes in criminal law in 2019. Physical attack on a female journalist during the Pride Parade in Zagreb – On July 3 2021, Tea Paponja, a newspaper journalist, was physically attacked at Marulic Square in Zagreb after the Pride was held, trying to investigate the burning of the LGBT flag which happened earlier in the day. The police arrested the attacker. Physical attack on a journalist during her investigation – On January 23 2020, four men attacked journalist Andrea Topic while she was investigating the property of then health minister Milan Kujundzic. Topic said she was photographing the property from the road when the men threatened her and intimidated her for half an hour by shouting, filming her, and sitting on and shaking her car. The Imotski Municipal State Attorney’s Office filed an indictment against the four men, charging them with unlawful deprivation of liberty. Death threats and physical attack against a female journalist – According to journalist Iva Anzulovic, she was invited to a café in Virovitica, on June 1 2020. Next to her two friends, there was also Renato Romic, a retired brigadier general, who Anzulovic wrote about in her articles. Romic addressed journalist Anzulovic several times with insults, later saying that he would get rid of her, “beat her with a bat”, and then that he will “kill her son first, so she can see what it looks like, and then kill her”. She was also physically attacked by Romic the same night. The journalist filed a criminal complaint with the Municipal State Attorney's Office. Afterwards, the journalist herself submitted a request to suspend the proceedings, because Romic apologized to her.

General context in Croatia According to Reporters Without Borders, Croatia ranked 56th in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index, recognizing harassment campaigns, threats and attacks, as well as cyber-violence as the most prevailing problems. Similarly, the Human Rights Report by the U.S. Department of State indicates that: “NGOs reported that intimidation and threats, especially online threats, against journalists had a chilling effect on media freedom and that the government insufficiently addressed this problem.” According to Human Rights House Zagreb, “in the context of a large number of lawsuits against journalists for insults, defamation and public shaming (more than 1000 in 2018) and their extremely negative impact on freedom of speech and media freedom, a protest of journalists was held in March 2019, which among other things sought an urgent amendment of the penal legislation to prevent misuse of lawsuits as means of pressure on journalists.” The Centre for freedom of expression protection has been founded in July 2015 as a result of the Croatian Journalists’ Association efforts to protect freedom of expression and equally take off burden of journalists’ in certain legally delicate situations regarding their work; providing services to journalists on different levels: pro bono representation, defence in court procedure, counselling, education of journalists and information about journalists’ rights. Despite all this, verbal and physical attacks, threats and cyber-violence, are still a recurring and major problem for journalists, while reaction from the authorities is very limited on these serious issues and lacking prompt investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. There is also an absence of public awareness about these serious problems.

Spain: responses to violence against women journalists In Spain media companies have an deontologic code which states the rights of the journalists. In this code one of the statements defends the respect to the right for the weaker and discriminated people. Therefore, it must maintain a special sensitivity in cases of information or opinions of possibly discriminatory content or likely to incite violence or human practices degrade. Must not referes in a derogatory or prejudicial way, to the race, color, religion, social origin or sex of a person or any disease or physical or mental handicap that he suffers. Also refrain from publishing such data, unless they are directly related to the published information. Avoid expressions or testimonies that are humiliating or harmful to the personal condition of individuals and their physical and moral integrity. Although violence and harassment of any kind is prohibited as a practice and as a right of journalists in their code of ethics, the legislation that protects them does not propose any measures against violence against women or any type. The only concept that protects is democracy and is not explicitly explained.

Italy: responses to violence against women journalists The work of journalists is regulated by the unified text on the duties of journalists, which provides guidelines for the profession. The newest development regards Article 5-bis, introduced in 2021, about respecting gender differences: it provides norms for the reporting of news on cases of femicide, violence, harassment, discrimination or that concern sexual orientation and gender identity. Seveso, (Working group on equal opportunities of the National Council of the Order of Journalists), deems it a great achievement and a useful tool for her colleagues. The National Federation of Print Media (FNSI) created its Equal Opportunities Commission in 1998: its tasks include the elimination of discrimination and overcoming obstacles in effective equality between male and female journalists. The Commission promotes an online service against discrimination and harassment on the job, which aims at providing help and counseling to women journalists victims of mistreatment. The Italian public service broadcaster RAI adopted norms to counter harassment in places of work in 2017. The code defines harassment and most importantly introduces the Confidential Counselor, tasked with providing support to victims of harassment and discrimination. The only other company equipped with an internal Code of Ethics is GEDI Group, publisher of Repubblica and La Stampa among others. The Code expresses the commitment to avoid any kind of discrimination, including based on gender; however, there is no specific mention of measures to combat gender-based violence. The role of professional unions and associations: in 2017, FNSI Equal Opportunities Commission, GiULiA (association of women journalists), USIGRAI and the Veneto Union of Journalists adopted the Venice Manifesto. It is a document signed by hundreds of male and female journalists that calls for the respect of gender equality in information, against any form of violence and discrimination through images and words. GiULiA is also supporting the initiative by the European consortium Media Freedom Rapid Response and OBC Transeuropa of a refuge house in Milan for journalists at risk, a place where they can work in peace in a safe environment.

Conclusion and call to action As seen before, neither Italy, Spain or Croatia excel in regards to freedom of expression, ranking from 29th to 56th in the RSF World Press Freedom Index. In recent years, the journalistic profession has been threatened, with many attacks against journalists, both physical and verbal, online and offline. A subset of this issue is violence female journalists, who are disproportionately targeted. It seems like all countries have taken some kind of measures to promote equality and non-discrimination in the field of media, however there is still a worrying normative vacuum. In all three states there is the need for targeted interventions to counter violence and harassment against women journalists, especially when the attacks come from inside the workplace. We want to use this compilative work as a springboard to bring the issue to the surface, to inspire advocacy action to demand effective responses and remedies. The constant threats and mistreatment of women in the media represents a setback in reaching equality and an obstacle to the achievement of a fully fledged democracy.

SourcesItaly Article 19 (2020), Italy: MFRR partners condemn increasing violence against journalists covering anti-lockdown protests. Retrieved from https://www.article19.org/resources/italy-violence-against-journalists/ Codice Etico del Gruppo Editoriale GEDI. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gedispa.it/fileadmin//user_upload/CodiceEtico2020.pdf FNSI. (2016). Cos’è la Commissione Pari Opportunità. Retrieved from https://www.fnsi.it/cose-la-commissione-pari-opportunita FNSI. (n.d.). Sportello Anti-Molestie. Retrieved from https://www.fnsi.it/sportello-antimolestie Freedom House (2021), Freedom on the net 2021- Italy. Retrieved from https://freedomhouse.org/country/italy/freedom-net/2021 Giulia giornaliste (2 November 2021), Nuove intimidazioni dal Sudan a Antonella Napoli. Retrieved from https://giulia.globalist.it/attualita/2021/11/02/nuove-intimidazioni-dal-sudan-a-antonella-napoli-2090001.html Global Media Monitoring Project (2020/2021), Who makes the news? Italian report. Retrived from https://whomakesthenews.org/gmmp-2020-final-reports/ Manifesto di Venezia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.fnsi.it/upload/70/70efdf2ec9b086079795c442636b55fb/0d8d3795eb7d18fd322e84ff5070484d.pdf Ministero dell’Interno (1 September 2021), Atti intimidatori nei confronti dei giornalisti. Retrieved from https://www.interno.gov.it/it/stampa-e-comunicazione/dati-e-statistiche/atti-intimidatori-nei-confronti-dei-giornalisti Norme di comportamento relative alle molestie nei luoghi di lavoro. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.fnsi.it/upload/70/70efdf2ec9b086079795c442636b55fb/4c77706eb4b57745dd376a6f0cf184cd.pdf Reporters Without Borders (2021), World Press Freedom Index 2021 - Italy. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/italy Seveso, L. (2020). Il rispetto di genere adesso è una regola dell’Ordine dei giornalisti. Retrieved from https://giulia.globalist.it/documenti/2020/11/21/il-rispetto-di-genere-adesso-e-una-regola-dell-ordine-dei-giornalisti-2068623.html Testo unico dei doveri del giornalista. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.odg.it/testo-unico-dei-doveri-del-giornalista/24288 Una residenza protetta per giornaliste (e giornalisti) minacciati. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://giulia.globalist.it/news/2021/09/23/una-residenza-protetta-per-giornaliste-e-giornalisti-minacciati-2087710.html Vox - Osservatorio italiano sui diritti (2020), La nuova mappa dell’intolleranza. 5° anno. Retrieved from http://www.voxdiritti.it/la-nuova-mappa-dellintolleranza-5/ Vox - Osservatorio italiano sui diritti (2020), La nuova mappa dell’intolleranza. 5° anno. Misoginia. Retrieved from http://www.voxdiritti.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/misoginia.jpg Croatia Andrea Topić: 'Otkad sam se jutros probudila, cijeli dan se tresem i u šoku sam'. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/novinarka-napadnuta-ispred-kuce-ministra-kujundzica-policija-uhitila-cetvoricu-muskaraca-1374637 CROATIA: CFWIJ CONDEMNS THE BRUTAL ATTACK AGAINST TEA PAPONJA. (2021). Retrieved from https://womeninjournalism.org/cfwij-press-statements/croatia-cfwij-condemns-the-brutal-attack-against-tea-paponja Croatian Journalists’ Association. (n.d.) http://hnd.hr/eng/freedom-of-speech-of-expression-center1 Kuća Ljudskih Prava. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.kucaljudskihprava.hr/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/KLJP_godisnjeIzvjesce2019_web.pdf Napadači na novinarku u Splitu bit će prvi prijavljeni za posve novo kazneno djelo. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.telegram.hr/politika-kriminal/napadaci-na-novinarku-u-splitu-bit-ce-prvi-prijavljeni-za-posve-novo-kazneno-djelo-kazna-je-do-5-godina/ Prijetnje smrću i prijetnje ugožavanja tjelesnog integriteta novinara, Iva Anzulović, Virovitica, 1.6.2020. (2020). Retrieved from https://safejournalists.net/reports/prijetnje-smrcu-i-prijetnje-ugozavanja-tjelesnog-integriteta-novinara-iva-anzulovic-virovitica-1-6-2020/?lang=hr Reporters Without Borders. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/croatia U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/report/custom/ab38465bd6/ Spain El documental español que revela la violencia machista contra las periodistas en las redes, 2021 El documental español que revela la violencia machista contra las periodistas en las redes - InfobaeCódigo Deontológico (n.d) Retrieved from https://fape.es/home/codigo-deontologico/ Código Deontológico (n.d) Retrieved from https://periodistasrm.es/codigo-deontologico/ Código Deontológico (2017) Retrieved from https://www.casadelosperiodistas.com/asociacion/codigo-deontologico/ La adaptación de los códigos de ética periodística europeos a Internet y las TIC (2014) Retrieved from https://institucionales.us.es/ambitos/la-adaptacion-de-los-codigos-de-etica-periodistica-europeos-a-internet-y-las-tic/ El periodismo político en España: algunas características definitorias (2011) Retrieved from http://repositori.uji.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10234/80553/Casero_19_46.pdf?sequence Berdasco-Gancedo, Y., & Herrero, D. B. (2018). Análisis del tratamiento de la información económica en los códigos éticos y deontológicos en el entorno español. Estudios Sobre El Mensaje Periodistico, 24(1), 85–103. Decreto 744/1967, de 13 de abril, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido del Estatuto de la Profesión Periodística. (1967) https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1967-7131 El Congreso regulará el Estatuto del Periodista Profesional (2004) https://elpais.com/diario/2004/11/24/sociedad/1101250814_850215.html