Online abuse makes it harder for journalists to do their jobs. A 2021 UNESCO study found that 26% of reporters who experienced online abuse reported depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other stress-related ailments like sleep loss and chronic pain. In extreme cases, targeted individuals have even contemplated suicide. Because of these risks, journalists often self-censor, minimizing their public presence, changing how they write or what they write about, or sometimes leaving the profession entirely.
All of this, in turn, impacts newsroom editors and managers. By supporting staff and freelance journalists in the face of online harassment and other safety challenges, managers and editors are not only taking care of their people, but sustaining their newsroom’s reporting capacity and protecting press freedom.
When a journalist is targeted online, the first person they turn to is often their editor. Here are four essential steps that newsroom editors and managers can take to support their staff and freelancers, even with limited resources. For more detailed guidance, see the Newsroom Best Practices Guide, a collaboration among leading journalism safety organizations and newsrooms spearheaded by PEN America and the Coalition Against Online Violence.
Why should editors and managers check in with journalists facing online abuse?
Online abuse is inherently isolating and can leave journalists feeling like they’re fighting a digital mob on their own. By reaching out and listening, editors and managers send a clear message to reporters that they don’t have to face online abuse alone. This proactive approach builds a foundation of trust, making it easier for staff and freelancers to be honest about the toll of online abuse – without fearing that transparency will damage their careers. It also makes it easier for managers and editors to provide tailored support and advocate for effective safety policies. Consistent check-ins can mitigate the burnout that stems from online attacks.
How can editors and managers check in with journalists facing online abuse?
- Regularly communicate your newsroom’s safety policies and protocols.
- Check out the IPI’s Newsrooms structures and support mechanisms for Communications for more on effectively communicating policies around online abuse.
- Regularly create space for staff and freelancers to discuss online abuse, threats, and other safety challenges, including for specific stories or projects. General check-ins can take place at cross-departmental, team, or weekly one-on-one meetings.
- Check out OpenNews’s How To Be an Ally in the Newsroom for more on communicating effectively and compassionately with teams.
- When a journalist is actively experiencing online abuse, check in privately. Center their concerns and needs by involving them in every decision about their safety, including public disclosure and law enforcement engagement. Offer the assistance of trusted allies or HR representatives as appropriate.
- Seek training on how to provide trauma-informed support, internally or through free online resources.
- Check out the IWMF’s Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence and the Media Resilience Network’s coaching and training program.
Why should editors and managers assess risk when preparing for reporting projects?
By assessing risks at the start of a project, editors and managers can spot potential red flags related to safety and put a safety plan in place before a story is published. A proactive approach turns safety from a high-stress emergency conversation into a routine part of the reporting process. It also ensures that every team member knows exactly what resources are available, so no one is left scrambling for support in the middle of a safety crisis. As the Columbia Journalism Review notes, risk assessments don’t just protect individuals–they build a more resilient newsroom culture.
How can editors and managers assess risk when preparing for reporting projects?
- Work with staff and freelancers to evaluate risks to themselves, their colleagues, their families, and their sources. Consider the reporter’s identity, beat, and story sensitivity and consider interrelated risks to physical safety, digital safety, and legal challenges. Established risk assessment templates and guidance can help:
- ACOS Alliance’s assignment safety checklist.
- CPJ’s Risk Assessment Template and IWMF’s Risk Management Template.
- Detailed guidance on risk assessment for newsrooms from IPI.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s guidelines on how to consider social media safety when commissioning content
- Consider that the targeted individual may have their own resources that they prefer to consult, especially if they are more familiar with their community, subject area, and support system than their manager.
- Use the information gleaned from risk assessments—and debriefs after publication—to determine which team-wide or organization-wide risk mitigation strategies are effective and which need improvement. Adjust organizational policies accordingly.
Why should editors and managers document online abuse and delegate its monitoring?
Being able to demonstrate a well-documented pattern of online abuse is critical if the situation requires involving legal counsel or law enforcement — and it can even be helpful for reporting abuse to social media and other online communications platforms. But documenting online abuse can be extremely taxing for journalists facing harassment campaigns. By delegating documentation and monitoring, editors and managers can allow the reporter to step back from having to interact with abusive content and focus on their well-being. It also demonstrates to staff and freelancers that safety is a shared responsibility, not something that an individual journalist or freelancer is expected to navigate alone.
How can editors and managers document online abuse and delegate its monitoring?
- Provide hands-on support to help impacted reporters document abuse, monitor platforms, report/block/filter content, and review messages.
- Check out PEN America’s Guidelines for Talking to Friends and Allies and Documenting Online Harassment in the Online Harassment Field Manual.
- Consult the following resources on how to effectively document online abuse:
- An Article on How To Trace Email Sender Location
- Tech Safety’s Documentation Tips for Survivors of Tech Abuse & Stalking
- Delegate documentation where possible to reduce exposure and potential secondary trauma. Ensure colleagues and allies understand the documentation process and provide guidance.
Why should editors and managers seek support to help journalists facing online abuse?
Online abuse is a complex issue involving a journalist’s physical safety, digital safety, psychological well being, professional reputation, and occasionally even the law. Because online attacks are often multi-faceted, it’s critical to identify a range of resources for different types of support and expertise. Identifying internal departments and external organizations that can step in during a crisis is a crucial step in risk management and providing fast, professional help.
How can editors and managers seek internal and external support to help journalists facing online abuse?
- Identify internal experts: communications, IT, HR, legal counsel, digital safety, and physical security.
- Seek the advice of civil society organizations, other media companies, professional associations, and commercial entities willing to provide discounted or pro bono support. Here are some resources to get you started:
- PEN America’s Digital Safety program and Best Practices for Employers
- CPJ’s Emergency Assistance team
- Freedom of the Press Foundation’s Digital Security program
- IWMF’s Newsroom Safety Training and Safety Consults
- IPI’s Trainings for Journalists and Newsrooms on How to Combat Online Harassment and Investigate Disinformation
- Coalition Against Online Violence’s Resource Hub
- Reach out to professional contacts at social media platforms if you have them—after reporting the specific abusive incident through the platform’s public reporting mechanisms.
- Facebook’s Trusted Partner program
Written by Kayla Masterman and Amanda Wells based on Best Practices for News Organizations: How to Protect and Support Journalists Harassed Online, a guide developed by leading journalism safety organizations and newsrooms spearheaded by PEN America and the Coalition Against Online Violence.
