BuzzFeed wants to find the Harvey Weinsteins in your industry
Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault scandal has shaken up Hollywood — and thus, the media. Yet, the large majority of the world does not work in the entertainment industry. In many other industries, there are undoubtedly people in power sexually harassing or assaulting others and keeping it silent. That’s why BuzzFeed is asking you to report instances of sexual abuse in your work industry to them.
One week after The New York Times published its exposé on Weinstein and the allegations continued to mount, the BuzzFeed News staff published, “Who Are The Harvey Weinsteins Of Your Industry? Tell Us.” In its story, BuzzFeed announced a commitment to investigating and reporting on “incidences of assault, harassment, and abuse of power” and asked for *your* help to make that happen.
Who is the Harvey Weinstein of your industry? We want to investigate. Here’s how to securely contact ushttps://t.co/zmV4jRZ1TN
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) October 12, 2017
As BuzzFeed wrote:
“Rigorous, thoughtful, and fair reporting has enormous capacity to hold individuals — and the institutions that enable or protect them — accountable.”
The power of diligent reporting was proven by the New York Times piece, since Weinstein was fired as a result.
Many celebrities and people in the entertainment industry are acknowledging that Weinstein’s abuse was an “open secret” in Hollywood for years. Dozens of women are also coming forward to share their own Weinstein sexual harassment or assault stories, including Oscar-winners Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, and Lupita Nyong’o.
On October 18th, CNN reported that over 40 women had publically accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault, and with Nyong’o sharing her story in The New York Times on October 19th, Vox reported that the number is now more than 50 women.
More than 40 women have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault https://t.co/3P2qfZQoio
— CNN (@CNN) October 18, 2017
While BuzzFeed’s article cited professors (Caltech’s Christian Ott), musicians (R. Kelly), and venture capitalists (Silicon Valley’s Justin Caldbeck) who have been exposed and held accountable for their actions, we know there are many more people out there who have abused their power for far too long.
So if you know someone like Weinstein in your industry — or even in another one — BuzzFeed asks for you to contact its reporters securely using one of the methods outlined here. Because it’s time to stop letting predators in any industry go unquestioned.
