Photojournalism’s moment of reckoning.

The disturbing revelations about sexual harassment in photojournalism, published in the Columbia Journalism Review, confirm that unacceptable conduct is prevalent in all sectors of the media and society. The recent accounts of female visual journalists in our own community (see the stories of Eman Mohammed, Adriane Ohanesian, and Amanda Mustard) have also helped make this clear.

Everyone working in visual journalism needs to work together to support those brave enough to stand up and call out discrimination and harassment. We need to work together to create a safe environment where no one suffers retaliation for doing the right thing. We need to work together so everyone can pursue their careers free of discrimination and harassment.

Leadership requires a zero tolerance policy towards those who harass others. We do not work with anyone in any of our programs once we know they have engaged in unacceptable conduct.

We have been collaborating for some time with partners, such as the International Women’s Media Foundation, to promote equality and diversity. Today’s article shows why such partnerships are more important than ever. Visual journalism needs its community to be united against discrimination and harassment.

Lars Boering, Managing Director, World Press Photo Foundation

This statement was originally posted here on 16 July 2018.

Further information:

Statement from the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA, USA) on the CJR special report.

Statement from the International Women’s Media Foundation and the NPPA on the CJR special report.