Canada: CFWIJ condemns the intimidation and verbal harassment against Jo Horwood

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May 4, 2021- Producer and correspondent for The Calgary News, Jo Horwood, was harassed publicly by an unknown intruder while she was recording an assignment. Jo shared a video of the incident captured by her cameraman. Towards the end of the video, the journalist approaches the harasser’s car, asking him to put down the car windows and show his face. CFWIJ is dismayed by the use of vulgar and inappropriate language towards a female journalist. We demand the local law enforcement hold this person accountable as these incidents become increasingly common. 

Jo was recording her report when an unknown man interrupted her while passing in his car. He uttered insulting words towards the woman journalist, which were recorded on camera. The incident left Jo visibly shaken. The man then drove off, but somehow the journalist was able to track his car around the corner. Reaching out to him, as seen in the video, Jo asked the unknown man to put down his car windows and show his face to the world. The journalist was recording this on her phone with her camera crew not far away. She was able to block the assailant’s way for a few seconds while he tried to drive away. Jo shared on her Twitter account, “I may have memorized the plate as he drove past me, so I made sure it was the same car when I caught up after packing up my gear! He was too busy trying to drive through me for me to get a good shot lol.”

Many women journalists empathized with Jo Horwood and shared their similar experiences, condemning how this sort of harassment caused them public humiliation. Meghan Grant, a crime reporter for CBC Calgary, shared, “This has happened to me too many times to count. I'm sorry it's still going on. Don't you wish you could track down his mother?”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has recorded several similar incidents where women journalists working in the field were attacked with unwelcoming remarks and sexist slurs. Earlier in January, CFWIJ recorded the statement of Krista Sharpe, a CTV correspondent who was also harassed by a passing car while filming her broadcast. On March 30, 2021, CFWIJ documented the impediment against Adaure Achumba, a correspondent for WFMY News 2. The journalist was attacked by an unknown woman as she was about to go live. The assailant  first shouted at Adaure and then spat on her face shield. 

It is an unfortunate pattern that is becoming increasingly prevalent. The unwarranted verbal harassment of women journalists from a passer-by is demeaning. It sets a dangerous precedent against the safety of women journalists in the field. CFWIJ once again demands the law enforcement be more proactive and apprehend the assailants behind these incidents and hold them accountable.