Greek television news presenter Rania Tzima has spoken openly about her professional journey, early career struggles, and the constant battle of balancing journalism with motherhood during a wide-ranging interview on the television show Hamogela Kai Pali.
Tzima reflected on her career at MEGA Channel, describing the major commercial broadcast network as being like her home while detailing her experiences with workplace dynamics, long hours, and early industry cynicism.
She stated that she had never experienced sexual harassment in her professional environment, though personal approaches between colleagues took place because journalists frequently work 12 to 14 hours a day. Tzima noted that being liked by a colleague was not harmful, provided the person understood and respected a refusal when turned down.
In the early years of her career, Tzima faced instances of relative belittlement and irony while on air, coming from both fellow journalists and politicians who questioned or undermined her work during live broadcasts.
Workplace challenges and motherhood
Tzima admitted that returning home after long newsroom shifts and immediately setting work aside to be a cheerful mother was not easy. She explained that she wanted to speak truthfully about these difficulties because mothers watching television might hear public figures claim everything could be managed seamlessly, leaving them with feelings of guilt when they could not achieve the same balance.
She stressed that managing both roles is not always possible. Work frequently follows her home, with newsroom phone calls continuing late into the evening. She explained that there are times when a working parent simply lacks the emotional reserves to be present in the exact way they would like, describing the ongoing effort as a constant battle.
Tzima added that her feelings of personal guilt have increased as her ten-year-old daughter, Eleni, has grown older and become more expressive about her mother's busy schedule.
A late night breaking news call
To illustrate the reality of balancing newsroom demands with family life, Tzima recounted a specific incident during news coverage of the military conflict between the United States and Iran, at a time when her husband Gabriel was away on a business trip.
Arriving home at 9:40 pm, Tzima was told by Eleni that she was hungry and wanted tortellini for dinner. Tzima asked her daughter whether they should simply go to sleep instead, but Eleni insisted on having the meal.
Tzima set out to boil the pasta while simultaneously preparing Eleni's school lunch snack for the following day. Throughout the process, Tzima kept her mobile phone in her trousers pocket with headphones in her ears, actively conferring with the newsroom desk about whether the network would need continuous overnight broadcasting in the event of a military strike.
As Tzima managed the cooking and the breaking news call at the same time, Eleni observed her mother and asked when she would be allowed to get married. Tzima advised her daughter that until she reached the age of 18 her mother would offer guidance on her choices, but after 18 Eleni could make her own decisions, adding that rushing into marriage was not a good idea. Eleni promptly replied that what Tzima was doing at that moment was not a very good idea either.
Journalism career and background
Rania Tzima is one of the most prominent broadcast journalists in Greece, currently serving as the chief evening news anchor for MEGA Channel, one of the nation's leading commercial television networks.
Her interview was broadcast on Hamogela Kai Pali, a popular weekend infotainment and current affairs television program aired on MEGA Channel and hosted by media personality Sissy Christidou.
Tzima is married to Gabriel Sakellaridis, a Greek economist and former politician who previously served as a government spokesperson, with whom she has her ten-year-old daughter Eleni.
