Coping with bullies

Esther Rantzen, one-time tv producer, bullied her staff. Sez who? She does, in an article in the British Journalism Review, and abridged by the media Guardian.

She says she is not alone. She blames women and largely excuses men as the industry's biggest bullies. She is bonkers about that. But it is undeniable that bullying is rife in the media industry, not just television. There's a lot of not very nice people around. They can and do cause a great deal of hurt to people.

Most of us know staff who have transformed from confident, bright young things at the dawn of their dream career to unhappy shadows of their former selves struggling with low esteem or depression. It is wrong. But in an attractive industry where hours are long and the supply of wannabies endless, bad things happen.

What's the answer? Here, for the benefit of newcomers to the industry, are some thoughts that might help:

* Read all the advice about dealing with bullies that is given to kids at school nowadays. Stuff about walking away, not letting bullies see that you are hurt, laughing at them, standing up for yourself but not plotting revenge. It all applies and can help. See the NSPCC for a starting point.

* Know when to report bullies and when it's best to ride the punches. It's a judgment call about what is best for you. If you get it right it puts you more in control.

* Don't live, eat, sleep and breathe your job. Make sure you have personal support networks outside work - not to spill your troubles to, but to get outside them.

* Join a union. They cannot provide a magic cure but have helped a lot of people.

Les