The plight of women journalists: Safety risks and gender discrimination in diverse contexts

This Special Issue examines the multifaceted challenges faced by women journalists globally, exploring safety risks and gender discrimination across diverse contexts. Women journalists encounter disproportionate threats including physical violence, sexual harassment and online abuse, with 73 per cent experiencing digital violence according to recent studies. The intersection of gender with race, religion, class and ethnicity intensifies these risks. Discrimination manifests through unequal pay, limited career advancement and segregation into ‘soft news’ beats. The six articles in this collection investigate these challenges across Ethiopia, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and India, employing theoretical frameworks including postcolonial feminism and intersectionality. Topics range from safety intervention ethics and women's leadership in newsrooms to online harassment and the unique barriers facing Dalit women journalists. The research reveals both the resilience of women journalists and the urgent need for institutional reforms including inclusive hiring policies, equitable resource allocation and effective safety mechanisms to create a more equitable media landscape.