Online Harassment of Women Journalists in the Balkans

Abstract

Women journalists, as some of the most prominent and visible public figures, are frequently the targets of the cyber violence. Several studies stated that online abuse has a massive impact on women journalists and that it can cause psychological problems such as anxiety, stress, and fear, and it can lead to self-censorship. Through the analysis of existing data on online attacks on journalists in the Balkans, online survey addressing women journalists in particular and the series of interviews, the chapter aims to provide an overview of the online harassment of female journalists and explore their responses to abuse. The chapter shows the most common reported forms of abuse targeting female journalists victimize them in particular and gendered ways. They often don't report the violence due to lack of trust in authorities, and they are usually left alone facing intimidation and its psychological impact.