New global report reveals growing impact of online violence on women journalists

The report also documents increasing efforts by women journalists to seek accountability and justice for online abuse:

• 22% of those surveyed reported incidents of online violence to the police;

• 14% initiated legal action against perpetrators, facilitators or employers.

Compared to 2020, women journalists surveyed in 2025 were more than twice as likely to report online violence to law enforcement, increasing from 11% to 22%.

The proportion of women journalists initiating legal action also rose significantly, from 8% in 2020 to 14% in 2025 amongst those surveyed.

However, the report highlights persistent barriers to justice, including reluctance from police to investigate online violence cases and victim-blaming responses from authorities.