Protecting journalists protects journalism: why the fight against online harassment matters

By WIN Team

As journalism increasingly shifts to digital platforms, online harassment has become one of the most pressing threats to journalists worldwide. The impact extends beyond individual reporters - it threatens press freedom, diversity in media, and the public's right to information.

To help media organisations respond effectively, WAN-IFRA WIN has developed a Newsroom Policy Guide to Fight Online Harassment, offering a structured approach to protecting journalists and ensuring a safe working environment.

Mariona Sanz, Senior Project Manager for Press Freedom and Media Development at WAN-IFRA, and Senior Manager for Safety at WAN-IFRA WIN, explains why this guide is essential and how it empowers newsrooms to create safer online spaces.

The Need for a Practical Guide

"Online harassment is one of the most pervasive threats that journalists face on a day-to-day basis," says Sanz. "It impacts their safety, mental health and their ability to report freely, inducing them frequently to self-censorship. However, despite the severity of the problem, there are not many protocol templates to help guide newsrooms on how to address online harassment as an organisation."

The Reality of Online Harassment

Journalists frequently endure threats, hate speech, doxxing (exposure of personal information online), impersonation, and cyberstalking.

Many also become targets of coordinated disinformation campaigns. Research shows that women, journalists of colour, and LGBTQ+ reportersface particularly severe and identity-based attacks, with misogynistic and sexualised threats aimed at silencing them.

Key Recommendations for Newsrooms

The guide outlines a proactive newsroom-wide approachto tackling online harassment. Key recommendations include:

• Digital Safety Practices:Establish clear security measures for staff and freelancers.
• Online Behaviour Guidelines:Define ethical engagement policies to prevent harassment.
• Sexual Harassment Policies:Reinforce zero-tolerance policies and offer training.
• Comment Moderation:Use human and AI moderation to prevent hate speech.
• Trauma-Informed Peer Support:Provide psychological support and training for affected journalists.

Newsroom leaders play a critical role in setting the tone. "They must acknowledge online harassment as unacceptable behaviour, and by ensuring that policies, protection and support mechanisms are in place," says Sanz. Leadership buy-in and cross-departmental collaboration (including editorial, HR, legal, and IT) are key to effective implementation.

ALSO SEE: Protecting journalists in the Digital Age: an inside look into the workings of the world's first Online Safety Editor

What Can Journalists Do If Support Is Lacking?

If internal newsroom support is unavailable, journalists can seek assistance from press freedom organisations and journalist unions. The WIN Online Harassment Guide, particularly the Rapid Response Guide, provides essential steps based on the type of harassment. Sanz recommends that journalists:

• Document the harassment(screenshots, URLs, timestamps).
• Secure online accounts(use two-factor authentication, change passwords regularly).
• Seek psychosocial supportfrom trusted colleagues or professional networks.

Effective Newsroom Measures

Some of the most effective strategies observed in major media outlets include:

• Appointing an Online Safety Editor, as seen at Reach plc.
• Establishing clear reporting and escalation procedures.
• Providing rapid-response guidelinesfor managers and journalists.

"The WIN Online Harassment Protocol Template and Guidelays out multiple protection, monitoring, and support mechanisms," explains Sanz. "Newsrooms can tailor these strategies to their needs and capacity to create a safer work environment."

The guide is available here.

For additional support, please reach out to info@womeninnews.org.

WAN-IFRA Staff

executivenews@wan-ifra.org