Press Freedom Status for Women Journalists: January 2024
Surge in Press Freedom Violations: 92 Cases in January with Bogus Arrests from Canada to Azerbaijan
In January 2024, the global landscape for women journalists darkened significantly, with a staggering 253% increase in violations compared to the previous year.
-
This month, our report records a distressing total of 76 violations against women journalists. Among these, the most heart-wrenching are the killings, with six recorded deaths. A significant and deeply concerning aspect of these figures is the continued targeting of Palestinian journalists. In December alone, six Palestinian women journalists were killed in Gaza under harrowing circumstances, including Shima el-Gazzar, Ola Atallah, Dua al-Cebbur, Nermin Qawwas, Hanan Ayyad, and Haneen Ali al-Qutshan, whose deaths not only represent a profound personal loss but also a devastating blow to press freedom and the right to information in the region. Israel killed at least four women journalists in November and three in October.
Aside from these fatal incidents, the report details various other forms of violations, ranging from imprisonment and legal harassment to denial of access and online harassment. The highest number of violations occurred in Venezuela, Palestine/Gaza, Australia, and Montenegro, with denial of access and threats/intimidation being the most prevalent.
Venezuela topped the list this month due to widespread violations of press freedom during the consultative referendum on Essequibo held on December 3, 2023. A total of 16 women journalists faced obstructions while covering the event. The Plan República, a security force responsible for maintaining order during elections, was involved in numerous incidents where they violated press freedom and information guarantees for journalists and media outlets.
While we documented instances of accountability, these are overshadowed by the overwhelming number of violations. The continued violence against Palestinian journalists is particularly alarming and underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to protect these journalists, who are the only ones able to report from within Gaza.
Top Three Trends
In the month of January alone, Women Press Freedom documented 20 cases of legal harassment, amongst which 1 was a SLAPP case, 2 were police raids and 1 was a case of transnational repression.
11 women journalists faced threats and/or intimidation while 8 women journalists reported cases of sexual harassment.
Highest number of press freedom violations - by region and countries
In Memoriam:
CFWIJ honors the lives and legacies of media professionals whose dedication to their craft ended in their untimely deaths.
Hiba al-Abadla
Israel kills journalist Hiba al-Abadla and her daughter Judy on January 9, 2024, in an airstrike on Khan Younis, Gaza.
A woman journalist imprisoned
Myanmar:
A military court sentenced journalist and documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe, aged 50, to life imprisonment on January 10, 2024, within the confines of the infamous Insein prison near Yangon.
Journalist and documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe
Four women journalists detained
Kyrgyzstan (2):
On January 16, 2024, police carried out searches at the residences of 11 journalists who were associated with outlets like Temirov Live, Ait Ait Dese, PolitKlinika, and Archa Media. As a result, the 11 journalists, including Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy and Aike Beyshekeeva, were taken into custody. The Pervomaisky District Court subsequently ordered their detention for a period of two months, until March 13, 2024.
Moldova:
During their coverage of a protest in Tiraspol on January 24, 2024, Moldovan journalists Viorica Tataru and Andrei Captarenco were detained by Transnistrian secret services. The TV8 reporter and her colleague were reporting on a demonstration organized by the separatist regime, which aimed to protest against newly imposed taxes on goods imported and exported through Moldova.
Turkiye:
JIN News Managing Editor Safiye Alağaş was detained by the police on January 28, 2024, while traveling from Siirt to Diyarbakır. The police intercepted Alağaş's vehicle and cited a 2011 case in the Istanbul 10th Penal Court as the basis for her detention. She was taken to the Sinanlı Gendarmerie Station in the Bismil district of Diyarbakır, where her statement was recorded and released the following day.
Two women journalists arrested
Canada:
Acclaimed Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin was slapped with bogus criminal charges for “obstruction” on January 10, 2024, following her coverage of a police raid on a homeless encampment in Edmonton. Morin, known for her history of confrontations with law enforcement while pursuing her journalistic work, was arrested alongside Indigenous community members.
Azerbaijan:
Police arrested Elnara Gasimova, a journalist associated with AbzasMedia, on charges of smuggling on January 17, 2024. Gasimova's arrest marks the ninth media worker detained since the crackdown began in late November 2023.
Nine women journalists physically assaulted
Ecuador:
Alina Manrique, the head of news for TC Television, expressed her distressing experience when recalling the violent attack on the news outlet that took place on January 10, 2024. Gunmen dressed in black attire and balaclavas launched a horrifying assault, brandishing large firearms. Manrique shared, still in a state of shock, as she recounted the traumatic incident where she had a gun pointed at her head.
Ukraine (3):
In the evening of January 10, 2024, Kharkiv, a city in Ukraine, was targeted with missile strikes from Russian S-300 missiles at various locations. Among the targets was a hotel that housed both civilians and journalists from the Turkish news agency, Anadolu Agency. Despite the hotel being engulfed in flames, Anadolu reporter Davit Kachkachishvili and photojournalist Özge Elif Kizil, who were on duty at the time, successfully managed to escape from the severely damaged establishment. Violetta-Anastasia Pedorych, a producer from France TV, was among those wounded, but fortunately, her injuries are not considered life-threatening.
On January 23, 2024, journalist Anna Myasnikova, working for the local media outlet Nakipilo, was hit in the leg by shrapnel during an airstrike in Kharkiv. The attack resulted in injuries to nine people, including a four-year-old child.
“The explosion happened a few dozen meters away from me. I didn’t have the time to get scared, and I didn’t immediately understand what was wrong with my leg. I only felt pain”
Kenya:
During the violent confrontations at the Kettle House Bar and Grill in Nairobi on January 5, 2024, Jane Kibira, a camera operator with Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), was stabbed in the back. She was promptly taken to a hospital where she received medical treatment. Fortunately, her condition improved, and she was discharged from the hospital after receiving appropriate care.
Chile:
During the live broadcast of CHV's morning show "Contigo en la mañana" on January 17, 2024, journalist Daniela Muñoz was struck, leaving her in a state of shock and disbelief. Muñoz was in the midst of conducting an interview with Cathy Barriga, the former Mayor of Maipú, as Barriga arrived at the Justice Center to face fraud charges. The distressing incident unfolded before viewers' eyes, with Muñoz exclaiming, "They just hit me," as she recounted the incident.
Georgia: (2)
On January 23, several journalists, including Natia Karchiladze and Ani Giorgadze, were physically assaulted by police officers in Tbilisi while covering the eviction of war veteran and single mother Mariam Kakiashvili and her two children in Tbilisi, the country’s capital.
Germany:
On January 29, 2024, in Weinböhla, Saxony, while covering a Querdenken demonstration, Kili Weber faced both verbal and physical assault. Protestors targeted her with threatening gestures and abusive language. One assaulted her, resulting in a wrist injury. The demonstrators also obstructed the journalist and filmed her without consent, creating an intimidating environment. Weber managed to film the attackers and posted the video online.
11 women journalists faced threats and intimidation
Argentina (6):
Following the election of far-right politician Javier Milei as President in Argentina, there has been an alarming increase in threats against women journalists in the country. Feminist journalists and activists, including Luciana Peker, Claudia Piñeiro, Giselle Leclercq, Silvia Mercado, and Claudia Acuña, have been specifically targeted. The severity of the threats has forced some, like Luciana Peker, to flee the country for their safety. This situation highlights the concerning climate for women journalists and activists in Argentina.
On January 23, 2024 during the CGT demonstration — one of the largest labor federations in the world — TN journalist Paula Bernini was targeted with insults and verbal attacks. As she was reporting on the event, a group of people directed their aggression towards her, hurling a barrage of verbal abuse.
Russia:
Acclaimed science journalist and author Asya Kazantseva has been forced to flee Russia and seek refuge in Georgia due to escalating threats from Russian officials and pro-war groups. Kazantseva believes that authorities are deliberately attempting to silence dissenting voices ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, where Vladimir Putin is seeking his fifth term in office. In a Facebook post on January 21, 2024, Kazantseva detailed the challenges she faced, including efforts by authorities to discredit her, instill fear, and ultimately drive her out of the country.
Honduras:
Yalile Pérez reported that on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, she faced a series of threatening phone calls targeting her personal safety. These calls were allegedly made by people associated with the local municipal leadership. The threats came after Pérez had reported on the arrest of Aníbal Erazo, the son of the mayor of Santa Rosa de Copán, for unlawful firearms possession.
“I cannot continue with this fear that they will send to kill me for having uploaded this news”
Montenegro:
Nataša Baranin, the editor of the foreign news desk of Television of Montenegro (RTCG), faced a verbal assault while driving in the capital city of Podgorica on January 6, 2024. Baranin encountered a group of pedestrians occupying the middle of the street. Attempting to navigate through, she honked her horn, signaling for the pedestrians to clear the way for her vehicle's passage. Instead of a cooperative response, Baranin was met with hostility.
Denmark:
On January 31, 2024, Ida Bøgild was followed while on assignment for Fyens Stiftstidende. Bøgild was investigating a climate action targeting the billionaire owner of Nordic Waste, Torben Østergaard-Nielsen.
El Salvador:
On January 5, 2024, Mayor Regalado of El Refugio displayed a blatant disregard for media freedom by engaging in intimidating and defamatory actions against a journalist investigating possible irregularities within the municipal administration. The journalist was targeted with surveillance by people believed to be affiliated with the Nuevas Ideas party, followed by Mayor Regalado personally photographing her and spreading slanderous content on social media.
20 women journalists legally harassed
Turkiye (12):
On January 8, 2024, following Seyhan Avşar's testimony at the İstanbul Courthouse regarding her reporting on Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, the court made the decision to impose an international travel ban on her. This means that Avşar is prohibited from leaving the country for the time being. The reasons behind the travel ban were not specified.
In April 2023, journalists Pınar Gayip, Eylem Nazlıer, Zeynep Kuray, Yadigâr Aygün, Serpil Ünal, and Esra Soybir were faced physical assault and detention while trying to issue a public press statement following the mass arrests of Kurdish journalists. Nearly a year later, these same six journalists are now facing trial. The prosecutor is seeking a maximum sentence of three years of imprisonment for them.
On January 8, 2024, journalist Zeynep Kuray provided a statement to police regarding the latest accusations being leveled at her for her reporting. The allegations stem from her social media posts addressing police violence against environmental demonstrators at Akbelen Forest. Accompanied by her legal team from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Kuray submitted her statement as part of the ongoing investigation.
On January 20, 2024, the Diyarbakır Regional Court of Justice overturned the previous acquittal of Ayşe Kara, stating that it lacked thorough examination. The higher court pointed to a new investigation initiated in 2022 by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The appeals court ruled that the local court did not wait for the results of this investigation before reaching its acquittal decision.
On January 25, 2024, the latest hearing of Sultan Eylem Keleş's trial took place, where she faced charges of "insulting a public official." The Tele1 journalist was actively reporting on a protest organized by BIMEKS workers in İstanbul on September 17, 2020, when police intervened, leading to her brief detention. The trial, held in Istanbul, was postponed until May 28, 2024.
Zehra Ömeroğlu, a cartoonist known for her work in independent, satirical magazines such as Bayan Yanı and Leman, is facing obscenity charges for her tongue-in-cheek pandemic-related cartoon. Ömeroğlu’s trial has been ongoing since 2022, she has faced repeated postponements, the latest on January 24. If convicted, she faces up to three years behind bars.
Kyrgyzstan (2):
On January 15, 2024, the State Committee for National Security conducted a search at the editorial office of 24.kg publication, confiscating all equipment and interrogating its leaders, including editor-in-chief Makhinur Niyazova, general director Asel Otorbaeva, and editor Anton Lymar. The reasons behind the search and the nature of the interrogation were not specified.
Serbia:
A reporter with a local news outlet in southern Serbia, Ivana Jovanovic, is facing a police investigation for her reporting on the substandard conditions at Branko Radicevic Elementary School. Jovanovic was questioned by officers on January 18, 2024, after the principal of the school she investigated filed a police complaint against her.
Italy:
Italian-Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal expressed her belief that she is being targeted as an example to silence others, in response to news that Fabio Rampelli, a politician from Fratelli d'Italia (FdI), is filing a lawsuit against her over a critical tweet.
Venezuela:
On January 22, 2024, arrest warrants were disclosed for exiled military reporter Sebastiana Barráez and 13 others. This came after the Attorney General's Office announced the detention of 31 civilians and soldiers. The reasons behind the arrest warrants and the specific charges were not provided.
India:
Just days before French President Emmanuel Macron's official visit to India, the government is reportedly threatening Vanessa Dougnac, a veteran journalist with 22 years of residence in the country, with the cancellation of her Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Dougnac has contributed to various French-language publications, including Le Point and La Croix.
Belarus:
On January 24, state files criminal charges against exiled journalist Hanna Liubakova and 19 others who are currently residing abroad. These charges are part of a broader assault on those who have valiantly opposed and spoken out against the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko, and who have sought refuge outside their homeland.
Iran:
Amid a recent surge of journalist restrictions in Iran, the nation's judicial and security bodies have come under fire for labeling journalists as "supporters of terrorists." This rationale was highlighted when the Iranian government sought legal repercussions against Shahrzad Hemmati, a journalist and social desk editor at Shargh newspaper, for an Instagram post.
Four women journalists faced legal measures
Iran (3):
After being released on heavy bail, journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, who played a crucial role in reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, have now been charged with new offenses by the Iranian regime. These charges are based on their alleged failure to wear their hijabs properly the day after their release. As a reprisal for their decision not to wear a headscarf upon their release, the women are set to be returned to prison one week later.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to an additional 15 months in prison.
United States:
On January 23, 2024, journalist Priscilla Villarreal, popularly known as La Gordiloca, had her criminal case dismissed by a state judge who declared the law used for her 2017 arrest as unconstitutional. However, her subsequent lawsuit seeking damages against the officials involved did not succeed. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a narrow 9-7 ruling, determined that the police officers and officials she had sued in Laredo and Webb County were shielded by legal immunity.
Eight women journalists faced sexual harassment
Colombia (7):
Former military officer Alfredo Navas Alvis has been accused of continuously harassing Noticias Caracol journalists Alejandra Murgas, Lucía Fernanda Yánez, and Katrina Melguizovski. The affected journalists have provided detailed accounts of the harassment in interviews and testimonies given to the media.
On January 18, 2024, Angie Téllez, Estefanía Maldonado, Deisy Nivia, and another woman who has asked to remain anonymous — all journalists working with CityTv in Bogotá — have been targeted with relentless sexual harassment by a man sending the reporters explicit videos in direct messages on social media and through WhatsApp.
United Kingdom:
Renowned investigative journalist and women's rights advocate, Sian Norris, has recently become the victim of a malicious online harassment campaign orchestrated by far-right trolls. In response, Norris had to contact multiple adult websites to request the removal of fake accounts created under her name. These accounts, with offensive usernames like "commie s***," were part of a vindictive online campaign targeting her.
Three women journalists faced sexist attacks
France (3):
During the January 13 episode of "Quelle époque," Marie Portolano discussed her co-presentation of "Télématin" with Thomas Sotto on France 2. However, Michel Drucker, host of "Vivement Dimanche," made insidious remarks towards Portolano about her report on sexist bullying experienced by women sports journalists in French television networks. Vanessa Le Moigne and Charlotte Namura, featured in the report, expressed discontent on social media.
A woman journalist faced workplace harassment
Australia:
Presenter Antoinette Lattouf has announced that she is suing the ABC for discrimination, stating that despite the network's claims of diversity and inclusion, it is currently an unsafe workplace for journalists of color. Lattouf alleges that she was terminated from her position as a presenter on ABC Radio Sydney's morning show after only three shifts, citing her social media posts regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict as the reason for her dismissal.
Three women journalists targeted with online harassment
Venezuela:
Starting on September 1, 2023, an anonymous Instagram account named "pedroperez_2023" initiated an online smear campaign against Pableysa Ostos, making unfounded accusations linking her to criminal activities. On January 7, 2024, after Ostos provided a public update on the legal proceedings, she received another barrage of abusive messages, this time from a different anonymous Instagram account.
Ireland:
On January 11, 2024, a disturbing deepfake Instagram ad was uncovered. This ad manipulated footage of Virgin Media news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, using it to promote a dubious investment scheme.
India:
After covering a festive event in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, on January 14, 2024, Haseena Shaik, a reporter for TV9, a Telugu-language news channel, endured relentless online harassment. Her professional conduct, which involved conducting an interview while riding pillion on a bike with former minister Kodali Nani, was deceitfully distorted and misrepresented on various online platforms.
Three hacking incidents targeting journalists
Kazakhstan:
According to Adil Soz, a local press freedom group, unidentified perpetrators have launched cyberattacks against at least nine independent media outlets and numerous journalists in Kazakhstan since November 2023. Prominent media entities like KazTAG news agency, as well as popular social media-based outlets like AIRAN and Obozhayu, have fallen victim to these cyberattacks.
Mexico:
On January 22, Mexican authorities made a public announcement revealing that a significant amount of data, encompassing personal information such as residential addresses, passport copies, and voter identification cards, had been illicitly extracted from government computer systems.
Serbia:
On January 25, 2024, the instagram account of Ivana Milosavljević, a reporter with the Center for Investigative Journalism in Belgrade, was targeted in an attempted hacking attack.
A woman journalist targeted with an organized troll campaign
Serbia:
After comments were posted on a tweet featuring a video of a Serbian girl from Kosovo singing nationalist songs before a Red Star basketball game, journalists Vanja Đurić and Željko Veljković faced a coordinated and severe online harassment campaign. This campaign involved threats, intimidation, and other forms of harassment.
A woman journalist resigned and 4 media outlets experienced massive layoffs
United States (5)
On January 23, the Los Angeles Times made the unfortunate announcement of laying off a significant number of employees. At least 115 people, which accounts for over 20% of the newsroom staff, will be affected by this decision. This reduction in workforce marks one of the largest in the publication's 142-year history.
Authentic Brands Group has ended its licensing agreement with The Arena Group, resulting in the termination of their collaboration in publishing Sports Illustrated. This jeopardizes the employment of the 82 Sports Illustrated employees represented by the union.
CEO Peter Bhatia of Houston Landing has caused a stir in the industry by abruptly firing editor-in-chief Mizanur Rahman and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Alex Stuckey. Houston Landing, known for its significant impact since its launch two years ago, has faced controversy due to these sudden dismissals by Bhatia.
In a memo sent on January 17, 2024, Condé Nast announced the merger of online music magazine Pitchfork with its men's magazine, GQ. This consolidation led to substantial layoffs, including the departure of editor-in-chief Puja Patel and Jill Mapes, Pitchfork's features editor, raising concerns about the future of Pitchfork.
Australia:
ABC political reporter Nour Haydar made headlines on January 11, 2024, when she announced her resignation from the network in protest of its coverage of the Middle East war.
Five women journalists faced violation of anonymity
Venezuela (4):
In a recent episode of "Con el mallet dando," Diosdado Cabello, former vice-president of Venezuela, leaked images of a conversation from the communications group of the National Assembly. The conversation involved several journalists requesting a link to a Zoom meeting to gather information about the installation session of the board of directors. Journalists mentioned included Ibis León, Víctor Amaya, Sofía Nederr, Osmary Hernández, Gabriela González, Deyanira Castellanos, and Fernando Tineo.
Russia:
In a concerning move, the Russian Justice Ministry has publicly disclosed personal information of people labeled as 'foreign agents,' including journalists and activists. One of those affected is Ekaterina Lushnikova, a freelance correspondent for Radio Free Europe's Russian Service in the Kirov region.
Three women journalists faced denial of access
Moldova (2):
On January 10, 2024, the head of the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI) of Moldova revealed that Russia had imposed a ban on the entry of several government officials and journalists. This ban includes journalists from prominent Moldovan publications, such as Stela Untila and Lorena Bogza.
United States:
On January 19, 2024, the Institute for Free Speech took action by filing a federal lawsuit on behalf of Laura Belin against Chief Clerk Nelson. The lawsuit argues that Nelson's refusal to grant press credentials to Belin, despite her compliance with the House's stated requirements for access, is a violation of the Constitution and an infringement on press freedom.
A woman journalist faced blocked access to information
Ukraine:
On January 5, 2024, Oksana Petruk, a journalist from the media outlet Syla Pravda, initiated a lawsuit against the state-owned company Lisy Ukrainy (Forests of Ukraine). The lawsuit was filed due to the company's refusal to disclose information of public interest, specifically regarding salaries within the organization.
A woman journalist’s family targeted
Azerbaijan:
Ofelya Maharramova, the mother of Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, has revealed that her disability benefits were withheld without any explanation. This comes after Vagifgizi's arrest in November 2023 on questionable charges.
Two women journalists discredited
Croatia:
On January 15, 2024, journalist Dora Kršul released a follow-up article to her previous investigation, originally published on Telegram in 2023. The article included an official statement from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (CASA), which implicated the Ministry of Obuljen Korzinek in irregularities concerning public spending on the post-earthquake renovation of cultural sites. The Croatian news agency HINA echoed the minister's statements in their reporting, accusing Telegram of disseminating malicious fake news. As a result, other media outlets picked up the narrative and continued to spread it.
Serbia:
On January 26, 2024, a press conference in Vranje took a contentious turn when Gordana Bjeletić questioned President Vučić about post-electoral dynamics in Belgrade. The leader mocked and insulted the N1 journalist and her outlet.
A journalist and media outlet targeted with surveillance
Ukraine:
On January 16, 2024, Bihus.info, an investigative team, reported a highly sophisticated attack in which a video titled "People's Truth" was released. The footage purportedly showed drug use by Bihus.info staff, including at least four women journalists, at a private New Year's party. The video was widely shared on social media platforms. Denys Bihus, the founder of Bihus.info, disclosed that the surveillance and publication of the video were part of a deliberate, long-term campaign aimed at undermining the team's credibility and work.
Mexico:
On January 12, 2024, judge Luis Benítez Alcántara dismissed the charges against a former employee of KBH TRACK — the lone defendant in the Pegasus Spyware case involving the esteemed journalist Carmen Aristegui. This case, emblematic of the broader issue of illegal surveillance of journalists, raises grave concerns about press freedom and the protection of journalists in Mexico.
Positive Outcomes
Two women journalists have wins in court
Guatemala:
The Special Prosecutor's Office Against Impunity (FECI) has accused eight journalists, including Julia Corado, from the closed elPeriódico newspaper, of obstructing justice through their reporting on the case of the outlet's founder, José Rubén Zamora, who was unjustly detained. However, on January 8, 2024, the Fifth Criminal Court dealt a significant blow to FECI by ruling that the case would not proceed as a criminal proceeding.
Pakistan
On January 30, Tanzeela Mazhar was acquitted in a criminal defamation case which had been dragging for the last seven years.
A woman journalist’s case dismissed
Turkiye:
On January 16, 2024, the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office made a decision of non-prosecution for journalist Sibel Yukler. Yukler, along with three other journalists, was accused of "targeting a public official" for sharing information about the reassignment of Prosecutor Mehmet Karababa and his wife. The ruling emphasized that journalist Fırat Can Arslan had already been acquitted and stated that there were no grounds for prosecuting Sibel Yukler.
Six women journalists elected
In groundbreaking election six remarkable women journalists are elected to the Saudi Journalists Association — Noor Nugali, Thekra Alatiwi, Lama AlShethry, Fatima Aloufi, Bushra Alrabiah, and Mai Alsharif — a significant milestone in the association's 21-year history.
If you would like to request more insight into our findings, or would like to suggest an addition to our work reach out to us at info@womeninjournalism.org. For media inquiries reach out to us at press@womeninjournalism.org.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.