ONLINE HARASSMENT

CYBER TROLLS. Acrylic on canvas by Jean Tait, Reuters executive assistant, New York — ***CYBER TROLLS****. Acrylic on canvas by Jean Tait, Reuters executive assistant, New York*

Online harassment can range from nasty comments and severe bullying to explicit threats of a sexual nature, and can come via emails, social media, text messages or other channels. People who don’t like a news story may organise an online attack against journalists to intimidate them.

The Columbia Journalism Review says some journalists have started to think twice before publishing due to abuse. Such harassment can affect your emotional wellbeing and, in extreme cases, lead to stalking and physical threats.

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma has published these tip sheets:
Dealing with Hate Campaigns
Five Ways to Protect Yourself Against Cyberhate and Trolls

One 2014 study showed that female journalists received three times more abuse on Twitter than their male counterparts.

For personal stories by former Reuters journalist Stephanie Brumsey and Reuters journalist Gabriela Donoso, click here.