Decades after Martha Gellhorn, women can be even better placed than men to report in conflict zones

I write this with immense respect for my male colleagues, who do fantastic work. But the truth is in many circumstances women can move more freely

The image of Martha Gellhorn hiding in the toilet of a hospital ship so she could cover the D-Day landings because as a female reporter she was not allowed to, is one that has inspired many women to become reporters.

Her husband, Ernest Hemingway, never had a stowaway story because as an accredited male correspondent he was permitted to go.

Much has thankfully changed since the 1940s. But it is only in the last few years that newsrooms have woken up to the fact that women are not just equals but sometimes even better placed to report.