Stay safe from harassment on your internship

It’s internship season — and whether you’re going to spend your time at a tiny TV station, a major metropolitan newspaper or a scrappy little start up, it’s important for interns to know how to protect themselves from harassment.

The Columbia Journalism Review surveyed more than 300 newsroom personnel and found that just 34 percent of staffers strongly agreed when asked if they feel safe from sexual harassment at work; 11 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed. But more than half of participants said they either didn’t know how to file a report about sexual harassment, or were unsure if they would know how to do so, suggesting that media organizations are failing to adequately communicate with their employees.

Now, two new initiatives are trying to help newsrooms do better.

Press Forward, an advocacy group founded by women who have faced harassment in newsrooms, officially launched in March after women in high-profile news media assault and harassment cases formed an informal support network.

The Power Shift Project, an initiative by the Newseum Institute, is “promoting workplace integrity, defined as eliminating sexual harassment and creating opportunities for all.”

The Power Shift Project has created a series of videos called “Power to the Interns,” which examines how those heading out on internships should be prepared.

If your university does not have a formal internship training program, these videos can help get you ready to make your learning experience what it should be.

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