media update’s Jenna Cook chatted to Eleni Giokos about what it takes to stay on top of family, gender equality and the media industry.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman who is a journalist, reporter and news anchor?
I’ve been very vocal about sexism in the workplace. Over 12 years ago when I started out, many companies didn’t create a conducive environment to raise these types of issues.
Specific experiences conjure up bad memories, because when you’re a young journalist it’s easy to get disheartened. You’re navigating unknown waters, from getting to grips with content to putting out good stories, and then you're bombarded by unnecessary comments about your physical appearance. It creates unnecessary noise and can detract you from the real job – good journalism.
I’ve heard it all from, “you’re pretty and so you shocked me with your questions” to “you only want to travel and host panels because you want men to look at you”.
I’m always lobbying business leaders to consider lactation rooms, flexible working hours and sympathetic work environments. I vowed to never work at an organisation that didn’t protect women and I would call out those that didn’t.
Ultimately, we are trying to raise the new generation of leaders and it does take a village.
What advice do you have for women who are thinking about entering a career in the media industry?
Buckle up, you're in for the most incredible journey! It’s tough physically, demanding mentally and if you like routine, this isn’t for you. Get ready for endless deadlines, but expect major rewards.
If you’re at the start of your media career, here is a list of things to get you started:
1. Read, read, read everything. Don’t skim. Do deep, thoughtful reading.
2. Surround yourself with many mentors and call them every day.
3. Talk to yourself constantly about a story you’ve just read – that’s how you’ll learn to ad-lib.
4. Learn to listen.
5. Be persistent, creative and innovative every day.
6. Lastly, don’t forget to find love, and if you’re considering having a family, never say you're too busy. Don’t let your career eclipse your personal life.
What does it take to be a woman who works for the likes of CNN?
I think the journey to get here as a woman has been interesting; overcoming blatant sexism and naysayers has been part of the challenge. But at CNN, it’s a different ball game. It’s not about being male or female that lands you stories or excludes you from assignments.
Our incredible female correspondents are covering everything from wars to slavery, and we have many female senior executives in influential roles.
It’s about being world class, telling stories that will impact the viewer and working together as a network to cover every angle in the best way possible.
Do you think women are accurately represented in the media, or is there still have a long way to go?
I’m surrounded by successful women in senior positions at CNN. These are remarkable women, doing amazing work that has a real impact.
Across the wider industry, however, women remain underrepresented in managerial positions, and underpaid compared to their male counterparts in media and film. It’s heart wrenching to see this kind of inequality today.
Levelling the playing field isn't going to be easy. I've been giving this a lot of thought since I became a mother. If you're tired and not sleeping you're more likely to take more time off, perhaps more likely to say ‘no’ to a more demanding position.
Fixing this issue starts at home – men and women need to share responsibility equally. I think if we can achieve that it might just filter through into the boardroom.
Tell us a bit about your work in the media industry?
Broadcast media is by far the most rewarding but has the most moving parts. Capturing the right visuals and speaking to interesting characters and then putting it all together is time-consuming but, once it’s on air, it’s incredibly satisfying.
I’m extremely proud to be part of a network of brave women and men who often risk their lives. Many journalists are currently incarcerated around the world – all in the name of free press.
The aim is to hunt for truth, follow leads that take you to the real stories. Whether you're covering breaking news or doing a profile on a company, staying true to the information that comes my way keeps me in check.
What are your predictions for the future of women in media throughout Africa?
African women are powerhouses; they are part of a lineage of hard workers, innovators and breadwinners. This is going to continue and I’m sure some will opt to go into journalism.
I hope more stories about women will be covered in the next few years. As a member of the Graca Machel Women in Media Network, there is a lot of effort behind the scenes to upskill aspiring female journalists, who I’m certain will disrupt the sector on the continent.
Drone journalism is a new way for reporters to capture stories. Read about what they offer that traditional reporting doesn’t in our article, Three reasons why we need drones in journalism.