Researchers who compiled a global report claim that the level of abuse aimed at female journalists has reached a "crisis point."
The three-year, multinational study that included 15 nations and was done by academics encouraged governments to act after discovering that the vast majority of journalists who participated had experienced internet harassment and threats.
The study's authors identified a "vicious and self-perpetuating loop" in which online harassment and threats of women journalists breed real-world, offline attacks and abuse, making it "one of the most significant contemporary dangers to press freedom abroad."
According to the report, online abuse of female journalists is "one of the most serious modern challenges to press freedom abroad."
The study found a vicious and self-perpetuating cycle in which digital harassment and threats spawn real-world, offline attacks and abuse.
The authors of ‘The Chilling’ are calling for governments, the news industry and the giant tech corporations to do more to tackle what they say is “a crisis of online violence towards women journalists.’’
Kalina Bontcheva, a senior researcher in the UK arm of the study, said, “Our report has found that we are now at a crisis point in the level of violence being directed towards women journalists. The vast majority who took part in the study had suffered from online violence, so UK policymakers need to take urgent action now in order to protect the lives of those who are doing such an important job in society.”
The report, which is based on research by the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) and the University of Sheffield, said, “Online violence against women journalists is one of the most serious contemporary threats to press freedom internationally.’’
The authors said the study drew on the experiences of nearly 1,100 journalists in 15 countries.
It also examined 2.5 million social media posts directed at Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, from the Philippines, and award-winning British journalist Carole Cadwalladr.
(dpa/NAN)