Female journalists picked on for appearance

In week eight’s tutorial we discussed the issue of gender and the state of the newsroom. It is common knowledge that there is a lack of female reporters in the news industry. This topic had significant relevance to me as I aspire to be a leading sports journalist, a field where males dominate.

With drawing particular focus to Rugby League journalism, as this is an area I am hoping to work in, there has been one female journalist who has made her mark on the industry, Erin Molan. Erin started making appearances on Channel Nine’s NRL Footy Show in 2013 before securing a co-hosting spot in 2014 and continuing on into 2015 (The Grill Team, 2014).

Erin Molan. Source: Daily Telegraph

There were and still are mixed opinions of Erin’s major role on such a male dominated show as she shares the panel with ex players of the game, while she has no experience playing Rugby League. However producers of the show and Channel Nine have supported her every move.

Since becoming a well-known face on The Footy Show, Erin has scored herself many other opportunities including regular appearances on The Sunday Footy Show and radio segments.

Erin previously had a regular sports segment on Kiis FM with Kyle and Jackie O, which she quit after being asked whether she had breast implants and what sportsmen she has had sex with (News.com.au, 2014).

Hitting back with the statement:

“To every young woman out there and every person out there, you determine your worth and if you feel you’re ever in a situation where you are not being treated with respect or the way you are being treated is not acceptable to you then you have every right to walk away and every right to stand up for yourself,”

Erin earned respect from many of her critics and portrayed herself as a great role model for up and coming female journalists (News.com.au, 2014).

I believe this situation has highlighted a significant difference in how male and female journalists are treated. A male journalist would never be asked a personal question about his appearance, so why should a female journalist be asked about hers?

This brings me to another example, Channel Nine’s Today Show host Lisa Wilkins is constantly receiving comments on her outfit each morning while it has been exposed that Karl Stefanovic wore the same suit every day for a year but nobody noticed (Lallo, 2014). Is this acceptable? And why is there so much focus on Lisa’s outfit choice and not on the words that come out of her mouth?

The double standards in regards to appearance for journalists appears to be a reoccurring issue that needs to be dealt with.

References

Erin Molan quits Kiis Fm after inappropriate and sexist questions during her sports segment, 2014, News.com.au, viewed 11 May 2015, <http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/erin-molan-quits-kiis-fm-after-inappropriate-and-sexist-questions-during-her-sports-segment/story-fnndfy6b-1227029489557&gt;

Lallo, M 2014, ‘Karl Stefanovic’s sexism experiment: Today’s presenter wears same suit for a year’, Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November, viewed 11 May 2015, <http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/karl-stefanovics-sexism-experiment-today-presenter-wears-same-suit-for-a-year-20141115-11ncdz.html&gt;

The Grill Team, 2014, Erin Stands Her Ground, The Grill Team, weblog, 18 August, viewed 11 May 2015, <http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/shows/grill-team/blog/2014/8/reports-erin-molan-from-nrl-footy-show-refused-to-return-to-sydney-radio-station/&gt;

When is it okay to show a face?

In week three’s class we looked at the ethics of viewing other people’s suffering. After focussing on the week’s provided readings we were shown powerful images of people suffering and asked how we feel about them. We were also asked what we would do in some of the situations: take the photo or help the person suffering.

Near the end of the tutorial we touched on the Sydney Siege that occurred at the Lindt Café in December 2014, as there were chilling images of the hostages that media released that horrified the public.

One image in particular was released early in the siege showing two women holding an Islamic State flag against the Café’s window. One of the women’s faces was covered by the flag but the other women’s face (who was a Lindt Café employee) was clear and on show to the world. The employee looked distraught.

As the siege progressed the same image was used by different media outlets, however the employee’s face was blurred out. This could have been because as time progressed the situation became more serious and showing her face could endanger the hostages. Another reason could have been because the media realised the effect their unethical choices could have on the woman’s family, as they would presumably not consent a distressing image of a loved one shared around the world.

Sydney Siege. Source: Yahoo News

In the dieing hours of the siege, hostages began to escape and as expected members of the media were present to capture these intense moments of glory for those that were now free, but great fear for the hostages still in the café. The faces in these images were not blurred when first released and are still not blurred, which brings me to the question of: is it okay to show a freed hostage’s face as they run to safety purely because they are no longer in danger, despite still appearing distressed, or should their faces still be blurred out as a sign of respect for their family, friends and themselves?

Sydney Siege. Source: The Australian

I believe all of the images taken throughout the siege, including the ones of hostages escaping, should not show their faces until either their families or themselves give consent. It can be unsettling for family members to see and can be considered an invasion of privacy of the hostages. As most of the hostages survived the siege, they could have given consent for the images to become clear in the following days or weeks of the siege.