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Tamedia publishing house in Zurich: »Men's associations are taking over«
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78 journalists from the Swiss media group Tamedia complained in an open letter about structural sexism in their editorial offices.
Women are systematically "thwarted, rebuked or intimidated," write the signatories.
They would be "disconnected" in meetings, would not have a say, their suggestions would not be taken seriously, made ridiculous or openly stolen.
In addition, there would be poorer career opportunities and lower pay.
Tamedia, a subsidiary of the TX Group, publishes the »Tages-Anzeiger« and the »Basler Zeitung« in Switzerland.
The group has a stake in the Austrian medium “Today” through the free newspaper “20 Minuten”.
The signatories of the open letter list on seven of twelve pages examples of sexist comments and conversational situations that they have experienced or observed in their editorial offices, divided into five categories: insults and sexist comments, tone and climate, prevented topics and stories, difficult development opportunities as well as the unequal wages.
"You are so pretty, you will surely achieve something"
Many women report being reduced to their looks by colleagues.
Young journalists could surely “tease something out” of an older manager, would get “a lot more information” than all the “suit wearers” or should “pull out the little black dress” at bank appointments.
One woman recalled the following comment: "You'd think we hire our people for their looks."
Another was said: "You are so pretty, you will surely achieve something".
There are also blatant differences in wages.
In a team, women would earn significantly less than men with the same qualifications, experience and performance, it is said.
More subtle forms of belittling are also documented in the letter.
Quite a few women say that they are generally not considered for promotions.
Since the beginning of the Corona restrictions, it has "gotten the upper hand with the men's associations," writes a journalist.
In video conferences, women sometimes only take up what feels like ten percent of the speaking time, while inputs and suggestions are ignored or accepted by men as their own arguments.
To this day, colleagues still find slippery sentences funny like: "There is a child screaming in the background with you, did I make that with you?"
Arthur Rutishauser, member of the management of Tamedia and editor-in-chief of the “SonntagsZeitung”, calls statements of this kind “unacceptable”.
Take the letter seriously, many examples would completely contradict the company principles.
»We do not tolerate any kind of harassment or discrimination.
We will investigate the specific allegations and examine them carefully, «says Rutishauser.
A letter with a long lead time
If you speak to the signatories of the open letter, a long history emerges, and it is not limited to the Tamedia publishing house.
"There were letters like this ten and fifteen years ago," says a journalist.
However, the women's strike in 2019 brought additional momentum to the matter.
At that time, nationwide demonstrations and rallies were held across Switzerland under the motto “Wage.
Time.
Respect. «Among other things, a financial upgrading of women's work and a stronger fight against sexism and sexual harassment are called for.
Before and after the day of the strike there were "nice, friendly, benevolent" conversations with the Tamedia leadership, says the journalist - but without any real success.
The fact that the publisher knew about the explosive power of the open letter is shown by an e-mail that was sent to many employees of the publishing house the day before it was published, it is available to SPIEGEL.
Under the title »Advancement of women: We want to set binding goals and involve all areas«, the members of the Tamedia management - four of them women - write how they imagine a publishing house with more »diversity«.
The advancement of women is part of it.
Proportion of women among executives »significantly too low«
The proportion of women at Tamedia is currently 38 percent, writes the management, but this is "significantly too low", especially among executives.
They want to change that, but no evidence has been found for systematic problems with wage inequality.
Currently, a working group headed by Priska Amstutz, co-editor-in-chief of the Tages-Anzeiger, is to deal with the "framework for equal development and cooperation", and reporting is to be "even more balanced".
Further confidants are defined "to whom anyone who experiences injustice in their daily work can turn".
So far so good?
The signatories see the hasty statement as part of the problem.
With Priska Amstutz, one of the few women in management positions should take care of the topic in her free time with other women who work voluntarily.
"It doesn't cost anything and it looks good," says a journalist.
Her demands, which her fellow campaigners have also formulated, go further: In the event of bullying, sexual harassment, stalking, hate messages or derogatory online comments, there should be a standardized procedure in the future that includes support from psychological experts.
A funding program with human and financial resources is needed.
Strategically important teams should be made up of at least one third women from the outset.
The journalists also want an anonymous survey, a kind of “mood barometer” on the working atmosphere in the editorial offices.
The only problem with the claims: many of them are already known.
They were formulated as part of the women's strike in 2019 - and have not yet been met.
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