The firing and doxing of journalists following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the swatting of journalists debunking hateful disinformation, and the violent assault of journalists covering ICE demonstrate that reporters in the U.S. are navigating a rapidly escalating threat environment. A free and independent press has never been more necessary—or more at risk—in the U.S. and around the world. In response, news organizations must take steps to protect their reporters, online and off.

How does online abuse undermine press freedom? 

Online abuse poses a serious threat to press freedom. A 2022 Pew study found that four-in-ten U.S. journalists experienced job-related harassment or threats. A more recent 2024 report from the International Women’s Media Foundation found that, in the lead up to the 2024 U.S. election, 33% of journalists experienced digital violence related to their work. When journalists are attacked online, they not only fear for their safety, but they self-censor—changing what they write, how they write, and even stopping writing altogether. This creates an alarming chilling effect.

According to Viktorya Vilk, PEN America’s director of digital safety and free expression, “Online abuse, which is fundamentally anti-democratic and undermines freedom of expression, has accelerated thanks to rapid advancements in generative AI, weakening platform content moderation practices, and the encouragement of online violence and disinformation by state actors. Newsrooms have a responsibility to protect staff and freelance journalists attacked for their reporting so that they can continue doing their jobs holding the powerful to account.”

How does online abuse impact journalists?

Online abuse has profoundly negative impacts on its targets. A 2021 study by UNESCO 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 contemplated and even died by suicide. Online abuse can also lead to offline violence; UNESCO’s 2021 study found that one-in-five women journalists who experienced online violence reported that the abuse migrated offline. Because of the physical risks and psychological toll of online abuse, journalists self-censor—changing their beat, minimizing their public presence, and even leaving the profession altogether.

Who is at the highest risk of online abuse?

Online abuse is a problem that disproportionately affects journalists with marginalized identities—73% of women journalists globally have experienced online violence during the course of their work. In the U.S., journalists of color are up to five times more likely to experience online harassment compared to their white counterparts. When online abuse drives reporters with marginalized identities out of the industry, news organizations become less representative and less diverse. 

How can new organizations protect journalists from online abuse?

PEN America and the Coalition Against Online Violence have released a guide, Best Practices for News Organizations: How to Protect and Support Journalists Harassed Online, to empower news industry leaders to protect their people amidst an escalating crackdown on the free press in the U.S. and internationally. Developed in close consultation with over a dozen newsrooms and civil society organizations, the guide provides newsrooms of all sizes with actionable strategies for safeguarding their staff and freelancers.

According to Jeje Mohamed, holistic safety and security consultant, “Journalists from historically marginalized identities are disproportionately targeted not only for their work, but for who they are, leading some to leave the industry altogether. Even newsrooms that are committed to journalist safety don’t always know where to start. This guide provides step-by-step support.”

Key Takeaways

1. News organizations of all sizes can take tangible steps to protect their staff and freelancers in the face of online abuse and other safety concerns, and they can do so even with limited resources. Developing digital safety policies and protocols—and communicating regularly about them internally—can make it easier to support reporters and retain diverse talent.

2. News organizations of all sizes can shift their workplace culture through open conversations about online abuse and safety. This not only makes reporters at risk more likely to ask for help, but also opens the door for peer support—one of the most promising methods of mitigating occupational hazards in the journalism industry.

3. News organizations can invest, even with a modest budget, in some combination of data scrubbing services, password managers, and digital safety training. For recommendations on how to find safety services and tools, including free and low-cost options, download the full guide. 

4. Managers and editors are the first line of defense for reporters facing online abuse and other safety concerns, so it’s critical that they know how to assess risk, check in, listen actively, document incidents, escalate concerns, and delegate support. Supervisors seeking to improve their newsroom’s safety practices can solicit input from staff and freelancers and advocate for better policies, protocols, and resources with institutional leadership. 

5. When it comes to safety, news organizations can learn from one another, share advice, and pool resources. Small news organizations, for example, can share the cost of a joint safety consultation or training. Mid to large-sized news organizations can take inspiration from fellow newsrooms that have already put in place robust safety support. Check out our guide to see numerous examples of news organizations that have successfully taken action to protect their reporters.