The research reveals just how widespread online and physical abuse towards journalists has become, and how this is changing the news and who is covering it. A ‘festering heap of toxicity’Not one of the 128 journalists and visual journalists surveyed was untouched by abuse, threats or violence related to their job, most commonly delivered via work email on a daily or weekly basis. Nearly 40% of all those experiencing physical violence were visual journalists, showing up to photograph emotionally charged events such as accidents and protests. Extensive and detailed reports of gendered abuse provide clear evidence that simply being female puts women journalists at risk in New Zealand, as it does elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, a good proportion of women journalists (22%) contemplated leaving the profession, compared to 4% of men.

Source: Stuff December 29, 2023 01:51 UTC