Research by Newcastle Chronicle and Journal publisher Reach Plc and the Women in Journalism group found women were leaving front-line jobs in journalism and minimising their online profiles in order to avoid online violence

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Today, on International Women’s Day, I am adding my voice to more than 100 media leaders and journalists in putting my name to a letter sent to police leaders and ministers responsible for the safety of journalists.

The letter calls for online threats and harassment of women working in journalism to be taken more seriously by police. It was written by non-profit organisations Women in Journalism and Reporters Without Borders and publisher Reach plc, which publishes the Chronicle and Journal as well as dozens of national and local news brands around the UK. It follows publication of research which demonstrated the devastating impact online threats and abuse can have on women working in journalism.

Research shows around three quarters of women in journalism in the UK have faced online harm such as threats, sexual violence, stalking and harassment. The impacts of online violence highlighted by the research, which was published by Women in Journalism and Reach last year, included significant mental health impacts and suicidal thoughts as well as women choosing to move away from public-facing work or leaving journalism altogether.

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The letter calls for a change to police response to online violence, saying: “The chilling effect of online violence - likely to get worse as we head towards elections - stifles press freedom and creates spaces for disinformation to thrive; it also risks making journalism less diverse at a time it needs more than ever to be representative.

"Women journalists who experience serious online violence, such as stalking, death or rape threats, or receiving unsolicited pornographic content from anonymous accounts, report long-term impacts on their professional and personal lives, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is a growing awareness of the link between online and physical violence; fear that online attacks may lead to ‘real-life’ attacks is palpable among those who experience violence online.

"Yet despite the rise in online violence, there are worrying inconsistencies in the way police handle, record and respond to online crimes against women journalists nationwide. Women journalists reporting online crimes to police often feel their case is quickly........

© Chronicle Live