12/1/2021
Fighting Digital Hate Against Journalists: Lessons for Countering Hate Speech
Silvio Waisbord
Director and Professor in the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University
Silvio Waisbord is Director and Professor in the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. He is the author or editor of eighteen books, as well as articles on journalism, politics, communication studies, media policy, and global social change. His most recent books are The Communication Manifesto (Polity), and El Imperio de la Utopia (Peninsula). He is the former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Communication and the International Journal of Press/Politics. He is a Fellow of the International Communication Association. Waisbord received a Licenciatura in Sociology from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and a Ph.D in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego.
Abstract
Digital hate is a pervasive feature of the digital society. While we have a growing literature on the forms and the drivers of digital hate, we still have limited analysis on effective tactics to reduce and curb hateful content. This chapter aims to contribute to this topic by reviewing actions to address online hate targeted at journalists around the world. Journalists, particularly women and journalists of color, have been frequently targeted by digital hate given the nature of their work, as well as their public profile. As societies understand better the risks of journalists in the digital society, several proposals have been made for journalists’ associations, technology companies, and the news industry to strengthen the safety and the wellbeing of journalists. Proposals range from changing reporting attacks and content practices in social media platforms to changes to legal frameworks to deter attacks and prosecute perpetrators. In this chapter, my interest is to review proposals, actions, and consequences in order to understand what works as well as the challenges for responding to digital hate.
