Introduction

Representatives of South African NGOs and media organisations met in Durban on 5 March 1998 to critically assess the way in which violence against women (VAW) is treated by the mainstream media. The workshop was convened by the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) and sponsored by UNICEF. It took place on the eve of the SADC conference on the Prevention of Violence Against Women.

Presentations included an analysis of selected press coverage of VAW during the period 1 November to 31 December 1997 by the Media Monitoring Project; case studies of media coverage of VAW by People Against Women's Abuse (POWA),Tshwaranang, Women's Media Watch, and a gender expert from Australia. A panel of journalists responded to these observations. The following is a summary of conclusions and recommendations made by participants.

Conclusions

• The news value attached to VAW stories: VAW receives more quantitative media attention than most other "gender issues". However, while other crimes feature regularly on the front pages, VAW is relegated to the centre pages. Bank robberies, highway shoot-outs etc are still regarded as far more serious crimes than VAW.

• The types of VAW stories which are covered: Most reporting on VAW centres on intimate femicide and rape; domestic violence, which occurs far more regularly, and events protesting VAW, such as this SADC conference, receive limited attention.

• The way in which women are identified: Women are not seen to have their own identity. They are described as someone's wife, girlfriend or daughter. For example, in the widely publicised alleged rape of Nomboniso Gasa, she was repeatedly referred to as the wife of an ANC member of parliament rather than a member of the Commission on Gender Equality.

• The implication that women are to blame: Stories on abuse and rape frequently imply the women "asked for it to happen" through such references as "she was alone at night" or "she was wearing revealing clothing".

• The myth that rapists are mostly outsiders: The fact that the perpetrators of rape are often persons known to victims is seldom portrayed. While this is understandable to some extent because victims may be reluctant to talk about such cases, the trend needs to be highlighted.

• Perpetuating other myths: The media has done little to debunk the many myths that accompany VAW and children. For example, the myth that Aids can be cured by having sex with younger girls has been reported with little critical comment or attempt to educate the public.

• Stereotypes around sex workers: Stories on sex workers are veiled in a tone of sarcasm, jest and humour which undermines the dignity of these women, and makes light the often difficult occupational choices which they have to make.

• Exonerating the perpetrators: There is tendency to highlight the experiences of men as perpetrators rather than of women as victims. For example, in the case of a man whose genitals were removed by a group of women after he allegedly raped a child, various media reports focused on the plight of the man, rather than on the frustration in the criminal justice system which led to the women taking the law into their own hands. The word "love" features with disturbing frequency in headlines relating to violence against women: for example, love is often cited as the motive of men who kill their partners. When men go on to commit suicide, the focus tends to be on the suicide, rather than the fact that they killed their wives or partners.

• Reliance on the courts as sources of stories: In the Media Watch study, 42 percent of VAW stories eminated from court cases. This has obvious limitations, as the majority of VAW cases seldom get to court, and the information gathered in court case is very different from that which might be obtained from primary sources.

• The lack of credibility ascribed to victims: Stories of victims are often treated with skepticism. For example, in the Nomboniso Gasa case, some media reports implied in the end that the story had been fabricated; giving more credence to unamed sources than to the story of the victim and the evident incompetence of the investigating police. Such reporting deters other victims from coming forward.

• Helpless victims: women are frequently depicted as victims of crime who are reduced to the level of their suffering: the terrified wife, the hysterical victim, the battered woman.

• Forgotten survivors: The media seldom carries stories of women who survive brutal attacks and their struggle to return to normality.

• Forgotten categories of women: the plight of rural; disabled; lesbian and other categories of women whose particular circumstances lead to especially brutal forms of violence is seldom featured.

• The lack of analysis: the media focuses on the event, and particularly the bizarre or unusual, rather than an analysis of the issues and trends surrounding VAW.

• Male reporters: the Media Watch study found that the majority of those reporting on cases of VAW are men. Although having women report on VAW does not necessarily guarantee a different type of coverage, the absence of women in certain ranks and beats of the media often contributes to the lack of sensitivity in the way such stories are handled.

Recommendations

A. Principles for Reporting VAW

2. Domestic violence, rape and murder have been historically unchallenged in our society and need to be challenged by the media now.

3. The dignity of the woman is paramount. She has the right to be depicted as an individual human being and not reduced to a suffering victim or statistic.

4. She has the right to privacy.

5. She has the right to have her perspective reported either by herself, if she is willing, or by organisations fighting for the rights of abused women, if she is not.

6. She is a survivor of abuse and her fight against it must be recognised.

7. Rape is a crime of power and control, not lust.

B. Guidelines for Covering VAW

2. Survivors of VAW should be treated with respect.

3. Perpetrators of violence should be named wherever possible.

4. VAW stories should be based on a variety of sources; and where possible include the views of the victims themselves in a way that does not lead to further suffering.

5. The media should seek to debunk, rather than perpetuate myths around VAW: eg the myth that women "ask" to be raped or abused; that most rapists are outsiders; that sex workers are objects; that male perpetrators are motivated by some kind of bizarre love or even lust for their victims. The media, and especially the public broadcaster, has a public education function.

6. Sensational news stories on VAW should be accompanied by analytical stories which place such events in context.

7. Stories of survivors; protests against VAW; successful strategies to combat this scourge; and the violence suffered by particular categories of women: eg rural, disabled, and lesbian women should also be publicised.

8. Information about services available should be made available- especially by the public broadcaster.

9. Comprehensive guidelines to avoid the use sexist language should be developed and monitored by media organisations and the Press Ombudsman.

10. Adverts should conform to gender sensitive criteria to be developed and monitored by media organisations and the Advertising Standards Authority.

C. Practical Steps for taking these principles and guidelines forward

2. Presentation of the guidelines to the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) by the CGE.

3. Gender sensitivity training for media organisations.

4. An annual award for the most progressive and sensitive coverage of VAW as well as disgrace awards for "The Most Sexist Media".

5. Regular contact/ workshops between journalists and NGOs working in the area of VAW.

6. Sustained monitoring of, and publication of findings on coverage of VAW. The focus placed on gender and media by watchdog bodies such as the CGE has already led to more sensitive coverage of gender issues. The CGE could work with NGOs which monitor the media to design and raise funding for more intensive monitoring; as well as ensure that research findings are widely publicised.

7. Co-ordinated protests against offensive articles or programmes. The many networks which have been formed by NGOs to monitor coverage of VAW need to work more closely together. Women's Net- the recently launched gender electronic network- provides a tool for such networking. The CGE, a constitutional body established to promote, monitor and protect gender equality, is also well positioned to take up such cases.

D. Further research and advocacy

• The socio economic consequences of VAW.

• VAW experienced by particularly vulnerable groups of women, eg among disabled and rural women; and by lesbians.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colleen Lowe Morna on 082-651-6995 or
Phosa Mashangoane on 083-757-7556