Women in Journalism Scotland and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have launched the second year of their WiJS x JRF bursary programme.

Five women journalists will each be awarded £1,500 to develop a project shining a light on economic and / or social inequalities around Scotland.

The project should be solutions-driven. More information on the types of projects considered can be found below.

The funding will be spent on working up a project from idea stage to a developed pitch ready to be taken to a publication (newspaper / broadcaster / online resource etc) or launched independently.

Part of the bursary programme involves working with an established woman journalist who will support successful applicants. This could be by helping to develop news lines, devising a list of target publications and advising on research techniques.

The funding will support successful applicants over a three month period in 2024. We expect all projects to be pitched to editors by October.

Heather Dewar, co-chair of Women in Journalism Scotland, said: “This bursary scheme provides an invaluable level of support to women journalists who often struggle with the financial pressures of long-term projects.

“The funding allows them to work at a pace which aligns with their desired goals and other life commitments and gives them the space to investigate their subject matter in a thorough, concise manner.

“We know from past experience how beneficial this support has been for our journalists, and we hope to see that continuing in the future, as the bursary scheme progresses.”

Chris Birt, associate director for Scotland for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “This bursary is crucial at a time when so many people across Scotland are struggling in face of hardship and inequality.

“In that context it is crucial that stories are told and solutions found to the challenges that people face and this bursary, along with the support of a mentor, will support more women journalists to do so.

“Powerful journalism drives change and I’m excited to see the outputs from this year’s successful applicants.”

PROJECTS CONSIDERED

We expect proposed projects to be reasonably developed with some initial research already undertaken. We welcome ideas for:

• Investigations

• Features

• Documentaries

• Radio productions

• Podcasts

• Travel writing

• Interviews

• Non-fiction book proposals

WHAT YOU GET

• £1,500 to develop a journalism project to pitch stage

• A journalist mentor to help each project reach its potential

• Two check-in meetings with Women in Journalism Scotland to provide extra guidance

• Support from experts at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation if required

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

This opportunity is suited to early to mid-career freelance women journalists. Applicants should have a number of bylines under their belt and be confident of being able to get their project published. We define mid-career journalists as anyone who still believes they have room to grow in their career.

Women journalists in staff jobs can also apply but there must be no contractual barrier to you pitching your project to a wide range of publications (a supporting statement from your employer may be required).

Applicants must have experienced economic inequality at some stage in their lives. This includes, but is not limited to:

In childhood:

• A family member in receipt of benefits

• Family members employed in low-paid work

• Family members who were unable to work due to disability or long-term illness (whether physical or mental ill-health)

• Having experience of the care system

In adulthood:

• Receiving Universal Credit or another equivalent means-tested benefit

• Experiencing housing or food insecurity

• Experiencing economic and/or social inequalities during their child’s early years and/or after returning to work from maternity or adoption leave

• Experiencing financial hardship while suffering discrimination in whatever setting (whether work, education or provision of services), including due to race.

• Experiencing financial hardship while in a caring role

• Experiencing financial hardship while recovering from illness, chronic health condition, or being disabled.

If you’d like to apply but are unsure whether you’re eligible, please email wijscotland@gmail.com for advice

The bursary programme is not open to students.

WHAT CAN THE £1,500 BE SPENT ON?

The funding will most likely be used as a wage to live from while researching your project. However, it can also be spent on travelling expenses or accessing archive material, for example.

The bursary will be delivered in two instalments throughout 2024.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?

The deadline is May 31.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should include three elements.

1. A one-page journalism CV (pdf)

2. A one-page pitch outlining and selling the project (pdf). This must include:

• What the project is and what research you have done so far

• How you will approach your project

• How long your project will take to complete

• What is your project’s hook/news line

• What publications you’ll pitch to

• Why the project is vital, and why now

• Why you are eligible

3. If you are submitting a broadcast/radio/podcast proposal, please send a one minute video of yourself selling your project.

Terms and conditions

Entrants must be a member of Women in Journalism Scotland

Applications should be emailed to wijscotland@gmail.com. Please also include your name, address, email address and telephone number in the body of the email.

Recipients will sign a conditions of grant document.

The winners of the 44th Scottish Press Awards. Picture by Andrew Barr - andybarr.com

The shortlist for the 45th Scottish Press Awards has been announced, with many of our members being recognised for their outstanding work in the past year. 
With 121 finalists in 26 categories featuring a mix of several long-standing award titles alongside a range of new-look categories, the judges received a flood of entries, representing the finest talent from across the industry.
WiJ Scotland is sponsor of the Nicola Barry Award, which is open to all women journalists of any age working in print and online media in Scotland deserving of recognition for their work in issue-led reportage or commentary.Shortlisted this year are:

• Heather Dewar, Scottish Daily Mail

• Karin Goodwin, The Ferret

• Helen Puttick, The Times Scotland/Sunday Times Scotland

• Marion Scott, The Sunday Post

• Margaret Taylor, Holyrood

The awards ceremony and dinner will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on May 29. Best wishes to everyone shortlisted for 2024.
The full shortlist can be found here and more information about the awards is here.

By Julia Benko

“Sometimes I don’t promote my work at all because of the abuse it will generate.”

It’s no longer uncommon for women to be succeeding in the world of journalism. But what is still all too frequent is that they are target of abuse and harassment - often aimed at their appearance or gender.

That’s been the experience of  Jane Hamilton, a Scottish crime reporter, who said she once had to take redundancy partly due to online abuse.

She said: “Since [the start of] social media, harassment has been a regular occurrence. This has ranged from rapists stalking me because of stories about them, angry campaigners targeting me because they did not like my stories and football fans [being] furious because of stories about their team.

“Sometimes I don’t promote my work at all because of the abuse it will generate.

“Just recently there have been slurs against my age, my weight, my appearance and using filters on my profile pictures, [which] I don’t. Men usually attack women’s appearance or their gender [and say] I must be prostituting myself for stories or [that] I am a police ‘bike’.

“Men do not get targeted in this way.”

Jane (pictured right) also said that in the newsroom she had “encountered male journalists who said crime is a man’s job and women should do light-hearted features, such as make-up and fashion.”

A 52-year-old freelance journalist, who preferred to remain anonymous, told how she was once stalked by a male musician she critiqued for a review the year prior.

“[He] cornered me in the bar [of a jazz festival] once everyone had gone back to their seats. He leaned right into my face and said something along the lines of: ‘I'd better never see you at one of my gigs again…’

“What angered me was the fact that he had never written to me to complain, or to my editor; he just launched into this verbal attack when he managed to get me cornered. He would not have done this if I had been a male critic, I’m sure.

“My editor took it seriously and he took it to the overall editor, but in the end the guy simply denied it and they felt they couldn't take it any further.”

In 2023, Women in Journalism completed a research report on the online harms committed against women working in the media. 403 women participated, all based in the UK.

From this sample, 75 per cent said they had experienced a threat to their safety during their work. Almost half declared they publicised their work less online due to the threat of online abuse, and nearly 20 per cent said the threat of online mistreatment had made them consider leaving the media industry.

It was also noted by multiple participants that references about their age were layered into the online abuse, and that hate speech, retaliation and personal comments were the most reported problems in the past year.

"Don’t feel ashamed if you need extra help.”

The report also exposed that nearly half of the respondents said they had faced misogynistic harm or abuse connected to their gender or gender identity.

In their research, Women in Journalism concluded that without any staff support, there is a “real risk that women working in journalism will leave their roles or choose to fade into the background online.”

“There is still significant work to be done to make spaces safer for women working in journalism.”

Meanwhile a Statista report depicting the distribution of journalists in the UK between 2016 and 2022 shows that more men have been employed as journalists than women. 2020 is the only year that marks a change from this trend; 53 per cent of journalists employed were women and 47 per cent were men.

In all of the places Jane has worked more recently, she said “there have been a large number of women”, including in senior and specialist positions.

The freelance journalist this has changed since she started working in the industry in the early to mid 1990s, when “the [work] culture was different”.

“We were just used to men dominating the workplace and having the senior positions and most of the women we saw were secretaries,” she said,

“There are more women [journalists] now than when I first started.”

But her advice for those women journalists who do face abuse and harassment is not to “suffer in silence”.

She said: “Seek out colleagues and let your employer know what is happening. Make sure your safety is a number one priority.

"Don’t feel ashamed if you need extra help.”

Julia Benko: https://twitter.com/julessbenko

Pictures: Laura A Tiliman

WIJ Scotland recently held a networking evening in Edinburgh for the first time - here’s the rundown on the event from committee member Rachael Revesz:

There are no two ways to say it – our inaugural Edinburgh networking event was a cracker. 

Held at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, in the glam Explorers Bothy Bar, 50 women were treated to whisky-based cocktails and mocktails, and a delicious variety of canapes.

Once we’d settled in, our co-chair Anna Burnside gave a rousing speech about the need to make new connections, given so many of us are now working from home. With the use of a cocktail shaker and a stirrer, Anna managed to keep our attention long enough to instruct us regarding the next stage of the evening – the speed networking event.

Our venue was set up perfectly for this activity, with lots of little round tables and booths. What was noticeable was the diversity of the crowd, in terms of age, background, and current status – we had women who were still studying, to those with children who were looking to return to journalism after a decade-long career break. It was also a great opportunity for some of the WIJ mentors to meet our new mentees for 2024.

During a refreshment break, Diageo’s senior bartender, Lucinda Parry, gave us a fun demo of the Elderberry and Sumac drink she was making – recipe below.

Cardhu 12

Cocchi Americano

Sumac Cordial (Made in house)

Aelder Elixir (From Buck and Birch)

Miraculously, as Lucinda spoke, we were served with the actual thing, garnished with a Red Vein Sorrel leaf. And it was delicious.

Once the speed networking was over, the cocktail shaker could be put to rest.

As our fellow committee member Jan Patience commented, ‘The speed networking was a laugh, especially with Anna banging her cocktail tin to get everyone to move on. I was so busy gassing. And yet I feel I hardly spoke to anyone!’

Understandable, given the event was sold out!

Next stop: the group photo. Our photographer Laura Tiliman did a cracking job, making sure all attendees were in the frame.

By this point, everyone was warmed up and fully socialised, and we could chat to other attendees at leisure. Some of us were so keen to stay and chat that we were almost herded out with a broom, just after 10pm. If only the public bar across the lobby had been open, I’m sure the night would have continued!

By Heather Dewar, WiJ Scotland co-chair

A new year beckons, as the snow fades and stockings lie limp beneath the tree.

2023 is almost at an end.

For some, it has been a year to celebrate: for others, it is a year that has brought grief, pain and uncertainty. 

As I write this, I’m painfully aware that the world around us is changing at a remarkable rate. The growth of digital and of AI, in particular, will likely continue to erode the traditional landscape so often associated with the world of journalism. 

While it is incumbent upon us to embrace this change and the opportunity it brings, it’s important to remember, too, the journalistic values at the core of everything we create. As technology evolves, it's vital that we fiercely protect this.

Truth, integrity, passion, insight and commitment - they are part of who we are and who we must remain, whatever the dynamic of the new world order.

These are the values of WiJ Scotland  - an organisation that continues to grow and empower women across the country, whatever their background, whatever their ambitions in the trade.

Over the last year we have focused yet again on our incredible mentoring scheme, which pairs aspiring journalists with mentors from across the land. We want to thank each and every one of our mentors for taking the time to  inspire others and for holding a hand out to the women who come behind them.

 In 2023, we had an incredible 42 pairings - and we hope this success continues as we look ahead to 2024. It really is an opportunity to learn from the best and to get to grips with what's required in an often cut-throat industry. 

This form of collaboration is central to what we do - and we were delighted to see a new association come our way in 2023, with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.  The inaugural WiJS x JRF bursary saw five women awarded £1500 to develop a project that shone a light on economic or social inequalities around Scotland. 

Given the current cost of living crisis, the programme was seen as a terrific opportunity to eliminate some of the financial hurdles that come one's way while working on long-form journalism. 

Chris Burt, associate director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said:  "Poverty, and the inequality that underpins it, is bearing its teeth in a way that cannot be tolerated in a society as wealthy as Scotland. This exciting project's aim is to shine a light on both the causes and cures for poverty and inequality and to help support more women journalists to use their experience and skill, with support from their peers and us, to do so."

We hope that those who have taken part in the programme have received a real and tangible benefit -  and we look forward to seeing their work in the near future. We are thrilled, meanwhile, that the programme will continue in 2024 with another talented bunch of individuals.

Elsewhere, we have worked hard to bring fellow journalists a variety of events that touch on subjects so often misunderstood in the media.

 We asked whether Scottish media employers were doing enough to support those going through the menopause.

 'Working Through the Menopause' saw TV supremo Kirsty Wark telling it like it is as our special guest in September.

 Wark, who made the taboo-busting documentary 'The Menopause and Me' back in 2017, has navigated her own way through the change, while working as one of the UK's top TV journalists. 

Thanks to Kirsty and to Shelley Joffre, BBC Scotland's Editor of Long Form Journalism, for hosting the Q and A at BBC Pacific Quay.

Over the year, we touched, too, on issues around class, in the superb 'We Need to Talk About Class: A Women in Journalism Scotland panel talk'. For the first time, we looked at an event that addressed the challenges and opportunities that working class female journalists face on a regular basis.

Held at the iconic Glasgow Women's Library, it explored the class dynamics in Scottish journalism and beyond - shining a light on the hidden hurdles working class journalists come up against in their careers.

The panel  - made up of award-winning writer and columnist Dani Gararvelli, Jen Stout and Dayna McAlpine - made for a superb listen and we truly hope that attendees left with renewed understanding and insight into the challenges so many women continue to face.

In terms of online events, perhaps one of the most powerful sessions of the year focused on 'Reporting violence against women.' It looked at some of the most difficult subjects we often have to cover. Based on a workshop format, the event covered all the issues that journalists need to understand in order to do justice to these important stories. 

Jo Zawadkza from Zero Tolerance set the scene, while Claire Thomson from Rape Crisis Scotland was on hand to talk about sexual violence and the new justice bill. Nyla Khan from Universal Truth, meanwhile, spoke about the importance of including the voices of victim-survivors and how to work with charities and campaign groups in this area. It's a part of journalism that is rarely spoken about, and we are proud to continue our work in this field.

Across 2023, we also celebrated the work of female journalists throughout Scotland at the annual Scottish Press Awards.

Congratulations once again to the inimitable Marion Scott of The Sunday Post, who walked away with the Nicola Barry Award, sponsored by WIJS. Scott made it a hat-trick on the night by also picking up the Reporter of the Year and the Scoop of the Year awards.

A huge congratulations to all the other women who either won or were nominated for their work. It really does reflect the passion, commitment and enormous dedication being shown by so many women across Scotland, who continue to break boundaries.

Celebrating achievements and lifting women up is an important part of what we do at WiJ Scotland. We have enjoyed more social events in 2023, and we hope to bring you more of these in 2024. Please do get in touch with any ideas you might have for these in the future.

Our Winter Social event saw our highest ever attendance - and we were delighted to raise   £500 on the night.

The Summer Social, meanwhile, was held in the fantastic Ferret newsroom and saw £400 raised for the work of the organisation. This was also the venue for an FOI masterclass, brilliantly hosted by Karin Goodwin, back in February.

We also staged another broadcast media training workshop with the BBC - this time in Inverness - as part of our long-standing efforts to redress the gender imbalance in Scottish media output.

This marked the first time WiJ Scotland has offered an event in Gaelic. Around 15 media commentators, print journalists and experts were put through their paces by the BBC team in Inverness.

 Later in the year, our redundancy workshop was attended by 56 people, with the event made available for free, for anyone who wishes to watch back. We hope it has helped many others in their time of need.

As we look ahead now to another year, we should continue to thank those who ply their trade in the industry. We actively welcome new members and are always interested in the views of others, as we continue to grow WiJ Scotland.

Thank you to each and every one of you who has given your time over the last year. None of it would have been possible without our attendees, our amazing committee and of course, our event sponsors. 

Let's hope 2024 is one to remember - bringing peace, gratitude and success to all.

Women in Journalism Scotland has launched the fourth round of its successful mentoring scheme.
Our mentors have helped their mentees bag bylines in publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian, as well as build contacts and grow in confidence.
The 2024 programme will draw on the knowledge and experience of a pool of experienced women journalist mentors. Successful applicants will be paired with a journalist mentor based on their specialism and goals.
Our mentors for 2024 include:

• Marion Scott, chief reporter at the Sunday Post and Scotland’s Journalist of the Year

• Laura Kuenssberg, presenter of the BBC’s flagship interview show on Sunday mornings on BBC One

• Jean Johansson, presenter of Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun and reporter for BBC’s The One Show

• Cal Flyn, author and journalist based in Orkney, and contributor to Granta, National Geographic, The Guardian and The Sunday Times

• Kirsty Wark, presenter at the BBC

• Laura Boyd, entertainment reporter for STV News and What’s On Scotland

Commenting on the launch, Women in Journalism Scotland head of mentoring Gabriella Bennett said: “Our scheme has gone from strength to strength since 2021 and we’ve now helped more than 100 early-to-mid career journalists.

“Mentoring is a two-way street and our mentors tell us the process has given them a confidence boost, too. For mentees it is an invaluable way to make contacts and break into the industry. 

“Our mentors for 2024 covers beats as diverse as politics, investigations, travel, food and drink, arts, health, sport, local news, digital, data, opinion and tech. We urge applicants to think carefully about their application and have clear goals in advance”. 

A WIJ Scotland mentor and mentee talk about their experiences of the programme

How to apply

To apply to have your media career shaped by this opportunity, fill in the below application form by December 22 2023.

This year we are also asking applicants to submit a short plan detailing what they would like to achieve with a mentor, including two goals.

Apply here. 

FAQ

Who can apply?

Early and mid-career women journalists working in Scotland will be chosen to take part in a year-long programme, which will include an hour a month of their mentor’s time, most likely on Zoom. 

WiJ Scotland defines a mid-career journalist as someone who feels they still have space to grow in their career and has specific goals they feel a mentor would help with.

Boosting the number of women of colour journalists and women sports journalists is one of our goals. Therefore, while the mentoring scheme is not generally open to student journalists, it is open to women of colour student journalists and students who want to be sports journalists.

Applicants must be a member of Women in Journalism Scotland. If you are not yet a member of Women in Journalism Scotland, join here.

What successful applicants will receive

• A year’s mentoring with an established women journalist

• An invite to an introductory mentoring workshop and an in-person mentoring social at BBC Scotland’s HQ

• The chance to connect with other mentees on the scheme through via Discord 

• Career development and opportunities from Women in Journalism Scotland

Why mentoring?

We believe mentoring has the ability to change the future of journalism. That future features a more confident, diverse workforce, a greater prevalence of women’s voices and more women in senior positions.

How is the mentoring scheme judged?

Applicants will be selected by a panel led by the WiJ Scotland committee. The panel will study all the answers to the questions posed in each application and base its final decision on the journalists proving how much they would benefit from the programme. An additional factor will be which applicant best fits the skills and experience of the mentors.

When will I hear back?

We aim to contact all applicants by early January. Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with feedback.

Photo from A Thousand words' commissioned by Scottish Womens Aid and Zero Tolerance. Copyright Laura Dodsworth

How do we report violence against women appropriately and effectively? That’s the question WIJ Scotland’s latest workshop set out to answer. 

Or at least start to answer - everyone involved agreed this is a huge subject and something that WIJ Scotland may well return to and develop.

The speakers were Jo Zawadza from Zero Tolerance, Claire Thomson from Rape Crisis Scotland and Nyla Khan from Universal Truth. Chair was former WIJ Scotland chair Cat McPhee, who is currently working on a documentary in this area.

Zero Tolerance and Rape Crisis Scotland are the two organisations journalists would turn to for help with a story about violence against women. The former is a campaigning and policy organisation while the second also offers frontline support to women.

Universal Truth was set up by Khan to support women who are victims of forced marriage.

The session covered a lot of ground. There is a whole list of resources below for further reading. But some key takeaways for journalists covering these stories are:

• When you write or broadcast a story about violence against women, remember there will be victims reading or watching.

• Always signpost support agencies. Your article or broadcast might bring back memories of historic abuse, or prompt someone to report what happened to them.

• Be aware of how important language is. Rape isn’t something that happens - it’s something that is done by someone else. The perpetrator chose how to act. Using the passive voice can make it sound inevitable and depersonalise the crime.

• Watch out for victim blaming such as references to what someone wore, how much she drank and so on.

• Avoid using issues such as the perpetrator’s alcohol and drug use or mental health as excuses. These can escalate a situation but they are not the cause.

• When working with case studies, be aware of what a huge thing you are asking them to do. Make sure they are aware of where their story will be used, will it be online, will it be shared across an outlet’s different platforms.

• Be very aware of the dangers of jigsaw identification. For example, by describing someone’s clothing or jewellery it might be possible for a small community to work out who it is.

An online recording of the workshop is available to buy - please contact wijscotland@gmail.com

Resources and further reading:

Rape Crisis Scotland helpline details for signposting:

Helpline open 5pm - midnight every night

Helpline phone support: 08088 01 03 02

Helpline email support: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Helpline text support: 07537 410 027 (our text number will show bills)

Helpline webchat support: www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Zero Tolerance advice for journalists, helplines  and free stock images https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/work-journalists/

Level UP's guidance on reporting domestic homicides:

https://www.welevelup.org/media-guidelines/#:~:text=Homicides%20are%20usually%20underpinned%20by,the%20victim's%20family%20or%20police.

Expert organisations that can be contacted for comment (including Pass the Mic - database of women of colour commentators in Scotland): https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/expert-organisations/

Rape Crisis Scotland article, How to report sexual assault trials responsibly, by Brenna Jessie and Karen Boyle: https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/news/how-to-report-sexual-assault-trials-responsibly/

By Chloe Gardener 

Until very recently, menopause was treated with secrecy. If talked about at all it would be in hushed whispers; or, at the other end of the spectrum, comedians would poke fun at “the change”. 

Which is rather odd, considering every woman - or anyone with a uterus for that matter - will experience menopause at some time or other.

And while the severity of physical and psychological symptoms differs from person to person, both day-to-day life and work is likely to be affected.  

So what support do our media employers offer employees going through what can be a difficult time?

Trade unions and the Scottish government publish guidance on how companies should write their menopause policies, but ultimately, it’s up to individual companies.

Reach offers an online meeting space for employees to speak openly about menopause, and even has an app to track mood and manage stress. 

Channel 4 has flexible working arrangements including paid leave for employees feeling unwell with their menopause symptoms, as well as access to a cool and well-ventilated working environment with support available for anyone that needs it. 

BBC Scotland’s policy advocates for making reasonable arrangements and also offers flexibility for working arrangements, plus monthly menopause groups where people can talk and share their experiences. 

Newsquest uses inclusive language; specifically mentioning that transgender men, nonbinary and intersex people may also experience menopause symptoms, whilst also offering working adjustments similar to the BBC and Channel 4. 

Rachel Weiss, chairperson of the Menopause Café

News UK promises to cover the costs of NHS HRT medication for their employees as well as offering support from Occupational Health consultants, with the same sort of working flexibility as the other companies mentioned.

But is this enough?

I spoke to Rachel Weiss, chairperson of the Menopause Café charity – which aims to open up discussions about menopause through pop-up cafes.

“It’s brilliant they’re doing [menopause policies] but the first step is to make it possible for people who work in the media to admit they’re suffering from the menopause,” Rachel said. 

“At the moment people don’t speak up about it because of ignorance and shame.”

“If media workplaces can become more inclusive of older women, that would help. The more they can do to show they value their older female employees the more likely people are to speak up.”

Rachel suggested that employers could host their own menopause cafes, or increase internal communications to help reduce stigma and promote healthy discussion about all things menopause. 

Managers, human resources staff and occupational health staff could also receive specialised menopause training if they have not been trained already. 

Rachel confessed that she had mixed feelings about menopause policies. She felt that rather than individual policies for every health condition there should be a universal approach that promotes understanding, open discussion, flexible working arrangements and sympathy for any member of staff that struggles with any health condition.

Elsewhere, there are several accreditations that media companies can work towards to be accredited as a menopause-friendly employer.

Overall it seems that education and understanding are the bedrock of a healthy relationship between media employer and employee – especially when it comes to menopause.

For more support and information:

Pausitivity 

British Menopause Society 

Menopause Matters (Email sessions with Dr Heather Currie, £30 per question)

Menopause Café events  

Our recent ‘Working Through the Menopause’ event continued vital conversations around this life transition. 

A collaboration between BBC Scotland’s Women in News project and Women in Journalism Scotland, the discussion offered advice and ideas on how to make the workplace more menopause-friendly. 

Kirsty Wark, whose taboo-busting documentary ‘The Menopause and Me’ aired in 2017, was interviewed by BBC Scotland’s Editor of Longform Journalism Shelley Jofre. 

Here are five top tips gleaned from their chat. 

1. Persevere with your GP if you don’t feel satisfied. You know your body best: it is worth asking your doctor’s receptionist which GP in the practice is interested in the menopause and making another appointment

2. Question the products punted by the menopause wellness industry. Menopause shampoo won’t stop the menopause!

3. That said, fans and cooling mats are great for hot flushes. Our experts recommend an ice cooling mat and an EasyAcc fan

4. Don’t have a menopause room at work? Kirsty Wark recommends comandeering a space 

5. Normalise chatting about the menopause at any age and find allies in your workplace. Talking openly about periods and PMT will lead to frank menopause discussions once the time comes 

Women in Journalism Scotland hosted an industry-leading panel discussion addressing the often-overlooked challenges faced by working-class women in journalism. 

The event ‘We Need to Talk About Class’ held at the iconic Glasgow Women's Library on August 24, shone a spotlight on the hidden obstacles encountered by working-class journalists - not only in Scotland but throughout the industry.

This groundbreaking debate delved into a range of issues, from the burden of expensive tuition fees to media narratives often unfriendly to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Attendees gained valuable insights into the unique challenges that working-class women journalists face as they enter the media world.

The intricate intersection of class and gender in journalism emerged as a central theme. Our panellists, including award-winning writer Audrey Gillan, columnist and reporter Catriona Stewart, and HuffPost's lifestyle editor, Dayna McAlpine, shared their personal experiences and offered advice on navigating the industry. They highlighted the unique skills that working-class journalists can bring to the newsroom.

Iris Pase, the event's chair and a committee member of Women in Journalism Scotland, emphasised that the panel provided attendees with an opportunity to reflect on their preconceived notions and biases surrounding class. It also illuminated ways to improve newsrooms and universities for greater inclusion and diversity.

“Women in journalism at all levels felt able to get involved in the discussion and speak openly about their own thoughts, backgrounds and experiences”

The event received support from various sponsors: the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Journalists’ Charity, and Diageo. 

Harriet Anderson, JRF’s Senior Media Manager, said: “This was a really engaging event with speakers who brought a wealth of their own experiences to the issue – looking not only at what class diversity means for careers in journalism but for the quality and relevance of the media outputs that get produced. 

“It was especially good to see that the organisers and the speakers were able to create a supportive environment where women in journalism at all levels felt able to get involved in the discussion and speak openly about their own thoughts, backgrounds and experiences.”

The insights and advice shared during the event are being compiled into an online resource that will soon be accessible to anyone who might need it. This collective effort aims to provide support and empowerment to individuals embarking on their unique journeys into the journalism industry.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, the focus on inclusivity and diversity becomes increasingly vital. Women in Journalism Scotland's We Need to Talk About Class panel represents a significant step forward in recognising and addressing the barriers faced by working-class women journalists. It is reshaping the future of journalism in Scotland and beyond, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable industry for all

Participants at the two-day event organised by Pass the Mic. Picture courtesy of Anisha Yaseen

By Anisha Yaseen

As a woman of colour, it is frustrating to feel ignored and marginalised by the media. It’s not okay for the media to represent women of colour without giving them a voice or a chance to share their ideas.

Simply including a few people of colour is not enough; their representation must be equal, and their voice heard. While it’s great to see progress towards inclusivity, it should be the norm, the expectation from all rather than being something so rare it still needs to be celebrated.

I was fortunate enough to attend a two-day event organised by Pass The Mic Scotland, founded by campaigner Talat Yaqoob after she received a request to appear on the media around immigration and her experience as a migrant – despite the fact she is not a migrant.

Pass the Mic’s mission is to provide opportunities for women of colour to participate in the media industry as experts, commentators and writers. Alongside this, they work to achieve equal representation in a typically white-male dominated industry and policy-influencing space in Scotland.  What began as an Excel spreadsheet of a few contacts is now a full database of women of colour and their various expertise for media outlets to access freely when looking for speakers.

These opportunities are crucial for people, like me, who do not have a starting point and often feel unheard by those in the media industry. The media plays a significant role in shaping society’s views and opinions, and it is vital that everyone’s voices are heard.

Anisha Yaseen

As someone who is passionate about campaigning and activism, I found the event both inspiring and exhausting. It is frustrating to see how much harder women, especially women of colour, must work to achieve the same opportunities as our male, white counterparts. Being in a room full of like-minded individuals who share similar experiences was refreshing, but it is equally frustrating that we all share these experiences of being underrepresented and sometimes, misrepresented.

One of the discussions during the two-day event focused on what media can learn and do differently. A wide range of people from media were invited and it was widely promoted on social media for people to freely register. Yet there were a distinct lack of men working in and around media who attended. This was discouraging for many of us, and was pointed out many times. If anything, this outcome reinforces the need for diversity and inclusion in media decision-making positions.

“Ultimately, our goal should be…a media sector which tells the stories that represent all people in Scotland”

During the event women of colour expressed concerns about their experiences with racism and sexism being dismissed, the problems with perpetuating a deficit model -  a model that blames marginalised communities, or sees them as lacking in skills - and a lack of trust between marginalised communities and some areas of media.

It is crucial to prioritise trust-building with marginalised communities and move towards equality in the media industry and wider policy and political influencing. It’s important to keep in mind that progress towards inclusivity should never be a reason to become complacent. There is always more work to be done to ensure that women of colour are given a platform to share their ideas and have their voices heard.

According to STV reporter Kaye Nicholson, who spoke on a panel discussion on what the media are doing to achieve equal representation, approaching more women of colour in their area of expertise is a win-win situation. Not only do journalists expand their contacts and find new content,- but there is also a representation of society to their audience.

Pass the Mic is a fantastic example of a platform that gives women of colour an opportunity to express themselves, to build skill, but importantly, to push for progress within media and beyond.

It is an unfortunate reality that many women of colour find themselves as the sole representative of their race in meetings and other professional settings, only to have their voices and opinions marginalised.

Racism is a pervasive issue that goes far beyond overtly derogatory comments and name-calling, as it is deeply ingrained in the very structures of society.  It is essential that women of colour are seen as more than just a diversity checkbox, but instead as individuals with expertise across a range of topics from the economy to education, to the environment.

While there has been significant attention given to diversity in the media industry, it is crucial that we move beyond the rhetoric and take tangible steps towards creating a more equitable environment.

Ultimately, our goal should be to establish a society that is truly inclusive, and a media sector which tells the stories that represent all people in Scotland, regardless of their race or gender, engaging a wide range of expertise.

At our recent AGM, Gabriella Bennett stepped down as WiJ Scotland chair following two years at the helm. Members were also appointed to new roles within the organisation.

Gabriella has been an inspirational and inclusive leader and we’d like to thank her for all of her hard work over the past two years. She established our mentoring scheme as well as our WiJS x JRF bursary programme and has been instrumental in organising campaigns and events. 

Our thanks goes to Gabriella Bennett, who has stepped down as WiJ Scotland chair after two years.

We are pleased to announce our co-chairs for 2023-25 will be Anna Burnside and Heather Dewar. They will be supported by Catriona Stewart as deputy chair.
We would also like to thank Susannah Morris for her role as social media manager, which has now been passed on to Iris Pase and Lucy Small.

We’re always looking for extra help on the committee and even the smallest contribution can make a huge difference to our organisation.
If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch via: wijscotland@gmail.com.