Abstract

 
 
 Norwegian news media were central actors in the dissemination of information about the #MeToo movement. Simultaneously, the media are made up of institutions and workplaces that are at times characterized by asymmetrical power relations. The aim of this article is to understand how those considered at the bottom of such power relations: young (female) interns in the sports journalism departments, experienced the effects of the #MeToo movement. Addressing the question if #MeToo changed anything, this article emphasizes the importance of combining the position that sexual harassment is not necessarily associated with a specific gender, at the same time recognizing that such harassment has first and foremost been part of a structural suppression of women. The article illustrates how facets of the journalistic culture and the myth of the “male genius” have marginalized those with unequal access to power in sports journalism, but also that the #MeToo movement has the potential to change this.
 
 
Highlights
The #MeToo movement gave attention to structural sexual harassment and assault experienced by women worldwide
The campaign started in the USA, October 2017, by actress Alyssa Milano and spread rapidly through hashtag activism, inspiring story-sharing, solidarity with survivors, and challenging a culture of pervasive sexual misconduct and harassment. #MeToo gave new life to the women’s movement and especially to the understanding and rectifying of sexual harassment, abuse and assault
The campaign emphasized how asymmetric power relations are central to sexual harassment and quickly resulted in a huge global media coverage, in the Nordic countries
Summary
The #MeToo movement gave attention to structural sexual harassment and assault experienced by women worldwide. #MeToo gave new life to the women’s movement and especially to the understanding and rectifying of sexual harassment, abuse and assault. In doing so, it galvanized activists around the globe (Clair et al 2019). In the USA, the #MeToo movement revealed many cases of harassment and misconduct towards journalist interns swept under the rug (Gutierrez 2018). The background inspires the research question of this article, namely: Are young journalist interns experiencing different conditions in the Norwegian sports newsrooms after the #MeToo campaign?. This article is addressing the changing awareness of sexual harassment in Norwegian media houses. Before going to our findings and discussions, we will start with an overview of the methods applied and some of the existing research on the gendered nature of journalism as well as on the division of labor in media houses
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