From the fallout from Jamie Briggs' inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague, to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton inadvertently sending journalist Samantha Maiden a text calling her a "mad f***ing witch", this year's been off to a particularly bad start.

Perhaps the one incident that, I admit, got under my skin the most was the sexual harassment of Channel 10 sports reporter Mel McLaughlin by cricketer Chris Gayle.

I don't watch cricket; in fact, I generally have no interest in it.

But when I saw the excruciating exchange between Gayle and McLaughlin during Monday's Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash match, I was horrified.

As a female reporter, I could immediately put myself in McLaughlin's shoes.

Watching her act with professionalism, only to be treated by Gayle as if she was there as eye candy, existing simply for his own fun, was heartbreaking.

McLaughlin was an experienced journalist, working at a high-profile match.

She was there to do her job, which was to conduct on-field interviews with players.

Whether or not she was aware of Gayle's reputation is difficult to say, but discussions by other female reporters since revealed his sexist behaviour was apparently a common occurrence, and something they were wary of.

Gayle has no place on the cricket pitch until he's atoned for his actions.

He should be suspended until further notice.

The $10,000 fine he received is a weak effort at appeasing the public, with no real repercussions for a superstar athlete like Gayle.

For Gayle to genuinely ask McLaughlin out for a drink in a private setting, away from an audience of thousands, is one thing.

But to address her disrespectfully at her place of work, to tell her "Don't blush, baby" in front of a live audience, when she was obviously so uncomfortable, is wrong.

Speaking to a close friend of mine about the incident was sadly unsurprising.

He told me many of his male friends had said things to the effect of "It was just a joke", "She should get over it", or "It was just harmless flirting" when commenting on the incident.

The fact is it wasn't a joke. If McLaughlin had turned around and said "Yes" to the drink, I have no doubt Gayle would have accepted.

McLauglin wasn't laughing, and that should tell us everything. Instead, Gayle used his power and position to intimidate McLaughlin, to 'put her in her place' in front of a live audience.

To err is human, but in his press conference at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport on Tuesday, Gayle showed no remorse for his actions.

His language says it all: His comments had been "blown out of proportion", he was sorry if McLaughlin had "felt that way" due to his comments.

With this half-hearted, stage-managed apology, he reinforced to men everywhere that this behaviour was acceptable.

I felt my skin crawl, thinking about the times men had called out "Smile, sweetheart" to me as I crossed the street, minding my own business with my head down, or yelled obscenities at me from their car as they drove past.

Thankfully, I've never been harassed while working.

A lack of television cameras or a microphone emblazoned with a news organisation's logo makes me less of a target.

I generally feel comfortable and safe when performing my daily tasks.

This is what all reporters, regardless of their gender, should be allowed to feel.

It's what all people should be allowed to feel, no matter their profession, or any other factor.