On August 31, 2020, Norwegian Ambassador Grete Lochen sent a message to female reporters and editors participating in WAN-IFRA’s Women In News Leadership Accelerator program in Vietnam. The program was launched on August 7, 2020, with the participation of 10 female reporters and editors from 9 major newsrooms in Vietnam.
“Greetings from Oslo, Norway. My name is Grete Lochen and I am the Norwegian ambassador to Vietnam. First of all I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ms.Tran Le Thuy, the Women in News Program Country Lead, for giving the opportunity to speak with you today. You’re all talented female journalists and editors in 9 media organizations in Vietnam.
A vibrant and strong press with high quality professional journalists and editors are very important in any country. We also know that some correct and balanced reporting is getting more and more difficult globally. The media is getting more and more polarized. It puts a lot of pressure into the individual journalists and editors. That is why I am particularly a big fan of this program. It will provide you with professional skills training, coaching, useful networks and address issues such as sexual harassments at the workplace. And just to make it clear, we should make zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Norway has a long tradition and experience when it comes to gender equality and women’s rights. We have come a long way, but there are still rooms for improvements. Too few women are in top management positions. We still need to fight and protect our rights at home and globally. This is why the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is partnering with a wide association of news publishers to support this program, in order to target female journalists and editors. I’ve been posted to Vietnam for two years now and I had the chance to meet and work with many Vietnamese reporters and editors. Interestingly, most of them are women. I’m also surprised to know that Vietnam has more women in news than men. This is a very encouraging fact that shows how Vietnamese women like to pursue their career and success. In Norway there are just 48% female reporters and 52% men. So, you are better than us. Female reporters share common challenges in terms of work-life balance, professional development, representation in management positions, gender-related stereotypes and traditional attitudes – including sexual harassments. Vietnamese female reporters have often encountered more difficulties due to social norms and traditional expectations. I experienced that many in fact are having triple jobs: a salaried job, responsibility for the household and upbringing of children, as well as taking care of the in-laws. We need to bring men on board and have them to take more responsibility at home.
We’re all living in difficult times as COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything around us unexpectedly and unpredictably – including how we report news around our newsrooms. The fact that you are holding this year’s program online shows the new normal. It creates challenges but also opportunities. We should be forward looking, and not think how it was before COVID-19. But I sincerely encourage you in being proactive in defining the new normal for media professionals. It is a great opportunity to have the Women In News program in Vietnam in this challenging time. The program looks very interesting. I believe that the WIN program, with its experienced and professional mentors and trainers, will equip you with skills, strategies and support networks to develop your own career, and give you courage and ways to speak out about sexual harassment in the newsroom, not just when you’re experiencing it yourself, but also on behalf of other female colleagues. More importantly, you can be important role models setting the standards for other journalists and editors – both men and women. I wish you all a successful program and I hope to see you very soon as part of the broader Norwegian alumni network in Vietnam. Xin cám ơn. Thank you and good luck.”
