Preliminary results of trans-national comparative research on sexual harassment in the media in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
After rejecting a colleague’s offer of sexual intercourse, the respondent in a survey we are conducting as part of the project “Ending workplace harassment in the media industry in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – Women in the Media,” experienced various forms of psychological harassment and emotional blackmail in the workplace. She did not turn to anyone for help. Neither did more than a hundred female journalists from newsrooms in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results of a survey on the status of female journalists, editors, and media workers in the four countries included in the study, conducted by Mediacentar Sarajevo in collaboration with Zavod Krog, Trade Union of Croatian Journalists, Trade Union of Culture, Art and Media “Nezavisnost” in Serbia, and Slovenian Association of Journalists, show that every second respondent has experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment. At least half of these cases come from colleagues in the newsrooms, and a third from superiors. The results also show that in most cases, the media do not implement any preventive measures against sexual harassment in the workplace. Female journalists are generally unaware of preventive mechanisms or measures for reporting sexual harassment (if these even exist). The vast majority of harassment cases are not reported to anyone. Fear of losing an already insecure and underpaid job, fear of retaliation, distrust that they will receive any support from the newsroom – these are just some of the reasons why the media in these countries continue to remain silent about these serious forms of human rights violations.
What are the experiences around the world?
“No one is immune to sexual harassment,” said Meghan Twohey, a New York Times reporter who, along with her colleague Jodi Kantor, was responsible for the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, a convicted rapist and former Hollywood producer. “Journalism stepped in where the system failed,” Kantor said shortly after she and Twohey received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the New York Times in 2018. The story was a powerful catalyst for the #MeToo movement and empowered thousands of women to speak publicly about their experiences of sexual harassment and violence. Although female journalists were not as visible among the big names of actresses and employees in the entertainment industry, several well-known television hosts and journalists, such as Norah O’Donnell from CNN and journalist Ann Curry from NBC, spoke openly about sexual harassment in the media industry. Finally, Bill O’Reilly, then the most famous host on Fox News and a favorite of American conservatives, was also accused of sexual harassment. He settled the lawsuit by paying $32 million. During the investigation, O’Reilly belittled Emily Steel, a junior reporter at The New York Times, who spent a year thoroughly investigating and documenting the allegations while receiving direct threats from him. “I’m coming at you with everything I’ve got, and you can take that as a threat,” O’Reilly told a reporter in one of the conversations. Steel won a Pulitzer Prize for her story, while O’Reilly blamed the liberal media for everything.
Spread of the movement in Europe and the Balkans
The #MeToo movement, which occupies an important place in the fourth wave of digital feminism, has spread to Europe, including the Balkan region. While in Sweden it triggered internal investigations by media editors, in the Balkans it remained mainly linked to social networks and individual testimonies. It was only after actress Milena Radulović spoke publicly about sexual harassment in 2021 that the topic began to be discussed more seriously in the region. Even then, the media missed an opportunity, with many reporting on the case in Serbia in an extremely unprofessional manner, giving significant media space to the perpetrator and his defense rather than the victim. Four years later, sexual harassment and abuse are still discussed with considerable restraint. Even naming this form of violence and recognizing its elements poses difficulties for many interviewees. Preliminary results of a survey conducted for research purposes in August and September 2025 show that the vast majority of female journalists and media workers from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not initially recognize sexual harassment—even though every second woman has experienced one or more forms of it.
Half of the perpetrators are colleagues from newsrooms
Excessive touching, taking advantage of work parties for inappropriate kisses, sending photos with sexual content under the impression that it is a joke, mocking and psychological harassment if rejection is shown, comments about appearance and buttocks as an everyday occurrence in the business environment, addressing someone as ” darling” in front of colleagues and in business situations, attempted rape and rape. These are just a few examples from media newsrooms in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina that were collected during the research. We developed the methodology for the regional study very thoroughly, consulting with media experts, lawyers, and experts in the field of responding to violence against women. We will use the results of the research as a starting point for advocating better mechanisms and responses to this deeply rooted “trap” in the media profession. The research is being conducted in several phases. This text was written at the conclusion of a survey in which nearly 600 female journalists, editors, and other media professionals participated. The study is being conducted by six researchers. Emil Čančar and Dina Vozab from Croatia emphasize that, despite the sensitive nature of the topic, they received a large number of responses and noticed a willingness among female journalists to share their experiences on condition of anonymity. “What particularly shocked me was that violence against women in the media is much more widespread than I thought,” Čančar pointed out. The results of the questionnaire show that every second respondent experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment, including comments about female sexuality that were unwanted and made them feel uncomfortable, frequent stereotypical and sexist remarks about women being inferior to men, incompetent, unreasonable, as well as comments that they are “unsuitable for sports journalism.” More than half of such cases come from colleagues in the newsrooms, and a third from superiors. They also hear similar comments from people passing by when they are out in the field (about 20 percent of cases), while online platforms are used much more for sexual comments. However, it is important to note that the results of the questionnaire show that their number is higher in newsrooms than elsewhere. “There are hundreds of cases like mine in our media scene. Ask public radio and television stations. You wouldn’t believe what you would find out and what our female colleagues are going through,” said one of the respondents in the questionnaire.
How do newsrooms respond?
The results of the questionnaire also show that in most cases, the media do not implement any preventive mechanisms against sexual harassment in the workplace. Female journalists are generally not informed about preventive mechanisms or measures in case they experience any form of harassment. Where such mechanisms do exist, more than half of the respondents are not sure whether they also apply to sexual harassment. “It is particularly concerning that a large number of respondents are unaware that their newsrooms have anti-harassment policies or regulations in place,” Dina Vozab points out in her initial research findings. Where mechanisms do exist, more than half of the respondents (63 percent) believe that the media do nothing to promote the use of these mechanisms and that no information has been provided to employees, nor has the reporting process been effective or any support provided after reporting. More than two-thirds of respondents did not report sexist comments or other forms of sexual harassment to anyone. Those who did so most often turned to their superiors or departments within the media company (20 percent). Only in 7 percent of cases did respondents also seek help from trade unions or journalists’ associations. “I didn’t know how to act without becoming a problem myself,” a journalist shared her experience in the survey.
The problem of normalizing harassment
Tjaša Turnšek, a researcher from Slovenia, highlights the phenomenon of normalizing harassment in the media.
“Most female journalists do not report cases of harassment because they consider it normal and socially acceptable behavior, while at the same time there is a visible lack of trust in existing protection mechanisms, which are slow and bureaucratic. These findings clearly point to the need to strengthen procedures, introduce anonymous reporting, and create a culture of openness in newsrooms,” says Turnšek. Perhaps this mistrust is best illustrated by the message from one of the respondents: “Never discuss this with your colleagues at work, because you never know whose side they are on. It is better to share this with family and friends outside the workplace.” One reason for this may be that, even in the small number of reported cases, nothing happened in three quarters of them. Only in four of the 133 cases were disciplinary proceedings initiated, in 14 cases internal proceedings or mediation, and six cases ended up in court. However, it is somewhat encouraging that most of the proceedings that were initiated were concluded in favor of the person who reported and initiated the proceedings, or that the proceedings are still ongoing.
Lamija Kovačević and Boriša Mraović, researchers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasize that the overall results of the questionnaire are reflected in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where half of the respondents reported having experienced some form of sexual harassment. In addition to the high prevalence of sexual harassment, there is a noticeable lack of awareness about its forms, while the majority of respondents in Bosnia and Herzegovina are unclear about protection and reporting procedures, if any exist. This finding is confirmed by an example from the survey: after reporting harassment and problematic behavior by a colleague, an editor at a major media outlet received only verbal support and advice to “deal with it herself.” “I’m not a psychotherapist, I’m an editor,” she wrote in her comment. Finally, while preparing this text, our researcher from Serbia, Smiljana Milinkov, received direct death threats, and attacks on journalists in Serbia have increased in the last month. “The prolonged political crisis has reduced the willingness of female journalists to participate in this research, but those who did participate emphasize that they have experienced various forms of sexual harassment. Among the older generations, it is clear that they only later realized that they had experienced sexual violence,” Milinkova emphasized in her initial impressions of the study.
Violence against female journalists is rarely or almost never discussed
Finally, a personal note. Through my work at Mediacenter Sarajevo, together with editors and researchers who have devoted a great deal of attention to monitoring media coverage of gender-based violence, I have formed numerous friendships and contacts with female journalists who are intensively involved in this field. Meetings of female journalists reporting on violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina are intended to examine ethical principles of reporting, current issues in the field of institutional responses to violence, and to exchange experiences and resources. Violence against female journalists is rarely or almost never discussed.
When I read the survey results, I wished I could call all the female journalists who had experienced sexual harassment and simply ask them how they were doing. Female journalists report on violations of other people’s rights and gender-based violence, but they rarely talk about the violence they themselves experience. I hope that this research and the upcoming activities will provide an opportunity to pause and discuss the forms of violence that female journalists are exposed to in newsrooms and in the field. I also hope that the results will encourage newsrooms to reconsider what they allow and what their procedures are for responding to these forms of serious human rights violations.
This text was prepared as part of the project “Ending workplace harassment in the media industry in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – Women in the Media,” with the financial support of the European Union.
Selma Zulić Šiljak
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