15 percent journalists face workplace sexual harassment: Survey

A survey has found that 15 per cent of journalists in the country have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. The survey, conducted among 339 journalists, revealed that female journalists face more verbal, online and physical harassment compared to their male counterparts.

The findings were presented at an event in the capital on Wednesday, March 25, marking the release of the 'Sexual Harassment Prevention Protocol for Media Professionals'. The survey was conducted in 2025 by the World Association of News Publishers in collaboration with BBC Media Action. Among the 339 participants, 100 were female and 190 were male journalists.

According to the survey, 60 percent of female journalists who experienced harassment reported verbal harassment, compared to 9 percent of male journalists. Online harassment was reported by 48 percent of female and 15 percent of male journalists, while physical harassment was reported by 24 percent of female and 7 percent of male journalists.

The survey also found that seven female and two male journalists had experienced rape. The findings were presented by Arafat Siddiqui at the event.

The survey further revealed that institutional responses to workplace sexual harassment remain weak. In many cases, particularly regarding verbal harassment, no action was taken even after complaints were filed.

According to the survey, in 43 percent of verbal harassment complaints filed by female journalists and 60 percent of those filed by male journalists, institutions took no action. In cases where action was taken, it was mostly limited to issuing warnings to the accused.

Al Mamun, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury and Angur Nahar Monti also spoke at the event.