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What are the biggest safety concerns you are hearing from journalists right now?
PEN America: It’s hard to know where to start. The Trump administration is unpredictable and extremely hostile to a free press, which means that U.S. journalists are facing heightened safety risks.
In terms of offline risks, journalists and newsrooms are concerned about legal attacks, particularly libel lawsuits, and the weaponization of federal agencies — from the FCC and the IRS to the FBI — in retaliation against the press. Journalists are also increasingly worried about threats to their physical safety, including intimidation and violence in the field.
In terms of online risks, journalists — particularly women journalists, journalists of color, and LGBTQ+ journalists — say they’re facing a surge in hateful and harassing content on social media platforms. As technology companies gut their trust and safety teams, loosen their anti-harassment policies, and abdicate responsibility for content moderation, online abuse and threats are exacerbated. There’s also a growing concern about digital surveillance from both the federal government and private corporations.
It’s important to keep in mind that journalists are targeted not only because of their profession and their coverage areas, but because of who they are and how they look. We’ve increasingly been hearing from newsrooms staffed by and covering Black communities, trans communities, and immigrant communities that they are encountering heightened hostility and safety challenges.
Despite these risks, we want journalists and newsrooms to understand that there are multiple non-profit organizations that will have their backs. If you’re a U.S.-based journalist or news outlet concerned about your safety or under attack for your work, reach out to the Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline, and we’ll connect you to individualized, trauma-informed support from PEN America, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), Reporters Committee for a Free Press (RCFP), Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), and Aegis Safety Alliance (Aegis).
What is the first line of defense when a journalist faces online harassment?
PEN America: Online abuse can be profoundly isolating, exhausting, frightening, and even traumatizing. Remember: you’re not alone. Find your support network and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Draw on your fellow reporters, trusted managers, close family and friends, and your wider online community of fans and followers.
Allies can help you monitor your mentions, report abuse, take screenshots, amplify your work, lock down your accounts, and tighten your privacy and security settings on social media. They can also help you document abuse by taking screenshots, saving hyperlinks, and storing abusive emails and voicemails. Documentation can be critically important if you’re seeking support from an employer, law enforcement, or a lawyer.
Where journalists can receive hands-on personalized support:
We will continue to share digital safety tips from PEN America in the upcoming days.
Watch: Bellamy-Walker recently joined an Institute webinar on how to handle (and prevent) online threats as a journalist.
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