"Survey respondents stated that online attacks have become more visible and coordinated in the past five years, particularly with a rise of nationalism around the world and the use of digital networks to thwart political processes. Extremists, online manipulators and antagonists use online channels ... and the media itself to amplify their messages. Whether government-sponsored attacks in the Ukraine, so-called alt-right extremists in the United States, or the use of bots and fake accounts, online attacks against journalists have become more sophisticated in nature, more insidious in their damage to the news enterprise and more dangerous for journalists, both online and off. This report is based on the findings of a global survey on violence, attacks and online abuse against women journalists and media workers. The survey was launched in January 2018 and was distributed to a global sample of media workers through March 2018. This report is also informed by semi-structured interviews conducted from June 2017 to March 2018 with 25 women journalists at all levels of media — from journalism students to management. The 597 women journalists and media workers who completed our survey work in a variety of media environments online and off, in cultures outside their countries of origin or domestically, on topics ranging from politics to the environment." (Executive summary) more

"For women journalists, online harassment may result in emotional stress and may require legal and technological remedies to mitigate the damage caused to their identity and reputation. Perpetrators can use a combination of online and offline attacks that threaten the employment and safety of journa ... lists. In the case of women writers, misogynistic and racist attacks can create a chilling effect that silences their voices online and creates a deterrent to freedom of expression that ultimately erodes the freedom of the press. Based on the examination of seminal work, case studies and personal anecdotes, this chapter investigates the consequences of abuse via Twitter and Facebook on the freedom of speech, the emotional and psychological impact on women journalists, and its implications on press freedom. Moreover, before suggesting digital defense strategies for journalists, the chapter also chronicles the development of TrollBusters, a platform for women journalists that counters online hate with positive messaging and just-in-time rescue services." (Abstract) more