Online abuse (the pervasive or severe targeting of an individual or group online through harmful behavior) negatively impacts journalists, including those at small and local newsrooms. Many journalists who are attacked online report fear for their safety, damage to their mental health, and self-censorship: changing their coverage, stepping back from online spaces, or, in extreme cases, leaving the profession altogether. Adequate support from newsroom leaders is key to reducing burnout and preventing staff departures related to online abuse.
Small and local newsrooms can face unique challenges when it comes to keeping reporters safe. Most of them lack the dedicated safety personnel that larger newsrooms can afford to employ. Limited time, resources, and financial constraints may also make it difficult to prioritize safety–especially amidst the many occupational stressors in the journalism field.
Having a small team or limited operating budget doesn’t make newsrooms powerless in the face of online abuse and other safety challenges. Beyond our three basic safety steps for all newsrooms, here are three additional actions that small and local newsrooms can take to protect their staff and freelancers–regardless of their resources:
- Assess the Scope of Online Abuse in your Newsroom
- Foster a Supportive Environment in your Newsroom
- Issue a Statement of Support
For more detailed guidance, check out the Newsroom Best Practices Guide, a collaboration among leading journalism safety organizations and newsrooms spearheaded by PEN America and the Coalition Against Online Violence.
Assess the Scope of Online Abuse in your Newsroom
Why should newsrooms assess the scope of online abuse and other safety concerns?
Understanding the safety risks and concerns of staff and freelancers is key to developing a safer working environment. Assessing the scope not only provides leadership with actionable data, but also normalizes conversations around safety, which signals to staff and freelancers that their experiences are valued and their safety is a priority. It also builds trust, helps identify patterns of harassment, and enables the newsroom to allocate support effectively.
How can newsrooms assess the scope of online abuse and other safety concerns?
- Hold a town hall or all-hands meeting focused on online safety. Ensure that staff and freelancers are not penalized for showing vulnerability and honesty about their safety-related experiences and concerns. Consider designating a moderator who can ensure that all participants are comfortably able to share their experiences.
- Distribute an anonymous survey. Keep it brief, with optional space for additional details, and clearly explain how the data will be used while maintaining confidentiality. Small outlets may consider hiring a third party to ensure anonymity.
- Check out the International Women in Media Foundation’s concise survey template (which features a case study from the Anchorage Daily News on page 17), the International Press Institute’s survey template, and PEN America’s survey template.
Foster a Supportive Environment in your Newsroom
Why should newsrooms foster a supportive environment in the face of online abuse and other safety concerns?
Online abuse can make it harder for journalists to do their jobs because it is often harmful to their emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Research shows that strong social connections significantly reduce the harms of online abuse. Viktorya Vilk, Director of Digital Safety at PEN America, said “Online abuse is so effective in pushing journalists to self-censorship because it makes them feel alone. Let journalists facing online abuse know that they aren’t alone, that the abuse isn’t their fault, and that their newsroom is standing with them.”
How can newsrooms foster a supportive environment in the face of online abuse and other safety concerns?
- Normalize conversations around safety and online abuse. Make clear to staff and freelancers – through regular communication, written commitments, and action – that organizational leadership recognizes the seriousness of online abuse and expects managers, editors, and colleagues to do the same.
- Share free resources on mental health and burnout with staff and freelancers, and re-up them regularly. Here are some resources to share:
- International Women in Media Foundation’s Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence
- Vita Activa offers psychological first aid for journalists experiencing online abuse, burnout, and other occupational hazards
- MDRnet offers culturally competent, trauma-informed support for journalists, freelancers, and media organizations by strengthening the emotional and organizational resilience of journalists and newsroom leaders.
- Set aside time and space during work hours for peer support groups focused on online abuse and other occupational hazards. Use consent forms to confirm participation. Clarify that these spaces are for peer support and resource-sharing, not professional clinical care. Make sure to protect participants’ privacy by configuring encryption, data retention, and confidentiality settings on any digital platforms used to facilitate peer support.
- Check out PEN America’s The Power of Peer Support, a report outlining the benefits of peer support for journalists facing abuse, for recommendations on creating and maintaining effective and safe journalist peer support groups.
- Check out descriptions of peer support groups at Reuters and the BBC, as described by the International Press Institute, here. Read more about the Canadian Association of Journalists’ peer support networks here.
Issue a Statement of Support
Why should newsrooms issue a statement of support for reporters under attack?
A public or internal statement of support shows care and demonstrates solidarity with targeted journalists. Statements can reduce feelings of isolation and show reporters that online abuse and other efforts at intimidation are not their fault. Public statements signal that newsrooms stand with their staff and freelancers in the face of online abuse, and that intimidation tactics will not succeed in censoring the newsroom’s reporting or the individual journalist’s work. Newsrooms can use the statements to fact-check false claims, highlight the journalist’s work, and call out insidious motives, such as silencing marginalized voices, deflecting accountability, or undermining press freedom.
How can newsrooms issue a statement of support for reporters under attack?
- Always consult closely with the targeted individual before releasing a public statement of support. In some cases, a public statement can unintentionally amplify attention to the abuse, so weigh the risks and benefits carefully.
- Develop a flexible template for statements and clarify in advance which situations warrant a statement. Having a clear plan ensures leadership responds thoughtfully, rather than reactively.
- Check out the International Women in Media Foundation’s What to Consider When Making Statements of Support (see page 38) and template for statements of support, and the International Press Institute’s Protocol for Newsrooms to Support Journalists Targeted with Online Harassment.
- Here are some examples of statements of support issued by newsrooms:
- The Verge’s statement on attacks against Sarah Jeong
- Los Angeles Times’ statement on a retaliatory investigation aimed at Alene Tchekmedyian
- Journalist Glenn Cook’s op-ed in defense of a colleague at the Las Vegas Review Journal
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.
