International Federation of Journalists Condemns Cyber-Bullying Against Female Journalists

This year, the Federation highlights the damaging and rapidly increasing incidents of cyber-bullying and threats, and the ways women journalist are targeted – often for simply being women in the profession.

In every country on the planet where there are media online, there are threats against journalists. In terms of women journalists, recent research has shown that it often takes the form of threats of sexual violence and more often extends to members of their families.

In May of this year, results of a collaborative pilot study by the National Union of Journalists (UK and Ireland) and the University of Strathclyde (Scotland, UK) revealed cases “where reporters have feared for their own personal safety” and referred to “death threats” and the need to “take additional security precautions”.

While the study did not separate incidences specifically targeting women, it stated that there were “clear cases of sectarian, sexist, racist and homophobic abuse”. One respondent said the abuse was “persistent, threatening, specific and sinister. Was evident they were monitoring my personal movements.”

While many dismiss the impact of such abuse, or worse, claim it is simply “freedom of speech”, ironically it can inhibit that freedom of speech and poses a serious threat to a free society through self-censorship, avoidance of specific stories or avoiding social media in an effort to evade abusers.

While there have been several countries and unions that have started taking this form of violence seriously, it is not yet enough. Which is why the IFJ celebrated the launch of the Council of Europe (CoE) online platform to record violations of journalist rights earlier this year. A partnership between the CoE, the IFJ, EFJ, Article 19, Reporters Without Borders and the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), under the Harassment clause in which cyber bullying is specifically mentioned.

What can you do?

This year, the IFJ and its Gender Council once again requests journalists, their unions and supporters to express their concerns over violence against women journalists, show their support and to demand an end to impunity by posting on #IFJVAW.

Additionally, the IFJ requests member unions to keep a data base of such cases and report them to the IFJ Gender Council for further action or support.