Update III: Sexual harassment by top anchor at a local cable news channel
Over the last three days, me, along with a couple of other journalists have managed to track down or have been reliably informed about seven cases of sexual harassment in the same local cable news channel involving the same top anchor (mentioned in earlier posts). All the seven cases have occurred over the last one year and more. The seven victims, several of whom we spoke to, have been subjected to sexual harassment, do not include others who have been abused before the above-mentioned time period or those who have been abused outside the organisation. The list of seven victims includes the latest sexual harassment case in which a part-time anchor was targeted and who eventually had to quit the organization. The accused anchor, also a senior print media journalist, however, was allowed to stay on in the same cable news channel with a ‘final warning’ and continues reportage and interviewing guests for the channel, which also runs a popular English newspaper. Three out of the seven victims landed up at the local cable news channel, as interns or fresh mass communication graduates from a Mapusa-based college, keen on starting their journalistic career. The unfortunate part is that none of the victims are willing to put their complaint down in writing. Their ground is that journalist in question, with his seniority and clout, will “finish of their careers”. This is the unfortunate fact of the matter for now, young journalists cowering in fear at the very start of their careers. Not a great sign for the profession as far as the state is concerned. There are a couple of victims, who have however, promised to think about filing of a formal sexual harassment complaint. We hope they do muster the courage. The lack of a complainant, unfortunately, also implies that no legal action will be taken against the harasser, at least for now, and the steady supply of interns from mass communication colleges, like the one in Mapusa, who are also interviewed for the job by the same anchor, will be open to abuse at news channel’s office premises located in central Panaji. FYI, we have also been informed of a sexual harassment case involving a mass communication post graduate diploma institution in Panaji. There are some commonalities as far as the modus operandi used by the anchor, when it comes to snaring his victims. The notes below on modus operandi are derived from victims’ stories, heard in first person and in some cases where the sexual harassment narrative has been recounted by the victims’ friends and colleagues. As far as the professional part goes, in the early, softening phase, the interns or young journalists are offered ready made news stories filed by the top anchor himself and an array of sources with promises for more help as and when required, which includes editing of their work and sundry. A very tempting proposition for young kids who are finding their way around their respective beats or work chores. It also creates a sort of incestuous dependency, which is exploited later. In many of the sexual harassment cases that we came across that occurred over the last one year and more, a cameraman who also works for the cable news channel is used as an ally, in this case a partner-in-crime. In one specific instance, the cameraman even advised a victim, his friend, to respond positively to the anchor’s sexual overtures claiming that it was the best way to move ahead in journalism. The personal approach is cornier and begins with stories about the anchor’s wife, who according to most of the victims, has been consistently described as a mentally challenged person, who beats him up often. This bleak family landscape is supplemented intermittently raunchy messages and ‘permission’ to send across vulgar videos. In most cases, attempts to grab and actual physical advances have followed the initial attempts to soften the victim. Rejection and attempts made by the victim to expose the anchor after the sexual harassment crosses a point, results in defensive threats of suicide made by the anchor as strategy. While I am sure these are standard tactics used by the aggressor in such cases, it is important to mention them, in the hope that the anchor’s prospective victims wise up. NOTE: The last time I posted an update on this subject, the headline and the content was changed without my permission or knowledge. If you see the above content posted by another user, in another form please disregard the same.
