STORY 73

People may think the days of physical attacks on people in the media are behind us. They are wrong about what the industry is like today.

Bullying and abuse are still rife in broadcasting. My editor abused me. For years, it was always verbal, carefully orchestrated and behind closed doors, while in front of colleagues, a deceptively cordial impression - often even accompanied by laughter - was uncomfortably left. But the abuse eventually crossed a line that led to PTSD.

Laughter, in this case, wasn't the best medicine. No one, not even the union, dared to challenge the manager as they had a hold over the entire office. I was forced to battle alone. Witnesses who saw the abuse turned a blind eye, unwilling to speak up for fear of consequences to their careers. Ultimately, I was victorious. I received compensation for lost earnings and the impact on my career. But I was forced to sign a lengthy NDA.

Currently, I am verifying whether the NDA in my case still stands in the light of recent changes in policy and the law. I am hopeful that survivors of abuse can tell their truth in one institution, at least, without fear of financial repercussions.