By The position and safety of women journalists in Montenegro represent a serious challenge to media freedom, gender equality, and democratic development — this is the main conclusion of the study “Safety of Women Journalists 2021–2024” conducted by the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) within the SafeJournalists network.
According to the research, authored by Marijana Camović Veličković, dissatisfaction with working conditions and the institutional response to attacks on women journalists, particularly in the digital space, reflects deep structural problems that affect both the integrity of the profession and the participation of women in public life.
The study also outlines a set of recommendations for the media, state institutions, trade unions, and civil society aimed at improving not only the safety but also the overall status of women journalists.
Recommendations for Institutions and State Authorities
- Improve legal regulations to clearly recognize and sanction gender-based violence against women journalists, particularly in the online sphere.
- Establish specialized protocols within the police and prosecutor’s offices for handling cases of violence against women journalists, with a focus on digital violence and the gender dimension.
- Provide mandatory training for police and prosecutorial staff on gender-based violence and the specific challenges faced by journalists in their professional context.
- Strengthen the role of the Ombudsman, especially in overseeing institutional responses to threats against women journalists.
- Publish gender-disaggregated statistics: It is often impossible to obtain even basic statistical data from state authorities, for example, the total number of employees in the media sector. Therefore, it is equally difficult to access gender-based data, which are essential for assessing the position of women journalists in the media industry.
Recommendations for the Media
- Introduce mandatory internal procedures for reporting and addressing harassment and discrimination within newsrooms.
- Provide psychological support to women journalists who have experienced threats, violence, or professional trauma—either internally or through cooperation with external service providers.
- Ensure access to legal assistance for all employees, with clear communication about their rights and available resources in case of attacks or lawsuits.
- Prevent gender-based discrimination in career advancement through transparent criteria for recruitment and professional promotion.
- Implement safety measures for field reporting because women journalists have emphasized the lack of safety mechanisms in media organizations when reporting from the field, especially in high-risk situations. Existing safety guidelines available to employers should be formally adopted as newsroom policy, and every employee should be familiar with and adhere to them.
Recommendations for Trade Unions and NGOs Working in the Media Sector
- Systematically collect data on attacks and discrimination against women journalists, and regularly publish and present this information to the public and relevant institutions.
- Monitor newsroom conditions: Trade unions and associations that have members within newsrooms, and, if possible, in other editorial offices as well, should monitor employers’ treatment of employees and respond whenever necessary, with the goal of eliminating harmful practices.
- Don’t let everything end with a statement: It is essential to respond to every individual case of attack on women journalists and to assess whether gender played a role in those incidents, but it is equally important to follow each case through to the end. Gender-disaggregated statistics are also crucial for tracking trends and identifying potential patterns.
- Use public presence to highlight the issue: The public must be aware of the specific problems women journalists face and should be regularly informed—not only when a new attack occurs.
- Provide free psychological and legal assistance, especially to those working without formal contracts, in local and smaller newsrooms.
- Advocate for equality within the media industry, through training for editors and media owners on gender equality and responsible management.
Recommendations for the Civil Sector
- Recognize the importance of women journalists in society: Since non-governmental organizations, especially those focused on women’s rights, generally have limited contact with women journalists, including those who have been victims of violence due to their profession, it is necessary to build connections with the media community. NGOs should listen to women journalists, understand their challenges, and explore ways to cooperate and provide support. It is essential to work on strengthening women journalists’ trust in civil society organizations dealing with gender equality, as well as on establishing stronger links and cooperation between them.
- Increase awareness of protection mechanisms against discrimination and gender-based violence: In the pursuit of work and information, women journalists often lack sufficient knowledge about how to protect themselves in certain situations or how to recognize various forms of unacceptable behavior they may face. The role of the NGO sector can be invaluable here, both through cooperation with the media and through independent initiatives, to promote recognition of gender-based discrimination and awareness of available protection mechanisms.
