Pascal Doucet-Bon
deputy director news France Télévisions
Karen Mahabir
head of fact-checking Associated Press
Jason Reich
VP corporate security The New York Times Company
Elodie Vialle
senior advisor digital safety & free expression PEN America
Viktorya Vilk
director digital safety and free expression PEN America
Online abuse is a direct attack against press freedom, intended to intimidate journalists into self-censorship and silence. Reporters are increasingly subjected to online harassment and threats in retaliation for their work. Women journalists are disproportionately targeted, as are journalists who belong to minority groups and who cover controversial subjects. Abusive tactics damage mental and physical health, reduce productivity, and make the newsrooms less diverse and less equitable. Many newsroom leaders want to do more to protect reporters, but where to start?
In this panel, newsroom leaders and experts will share concrete strategies for how to support journalists facing online abuse. What protocols and policies can newsrooms set up? What services can they offer? Should they publicly address abuse or will that add fuel to the fire? How can newsrooms ensure that the reporters who experience the most abuse, for their identity and coverage, also receive the most support?
