Women Journalists Fighting Online Violence from India to the UK

Indian investigative journalist and Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub is one of the most abused journalists in the world - as a woman, a Muslim and a professional. Online violence against her has spilled offline in the form of stalking and State-linked legal harassment.

Investigative journalist and Observer columnist Carole Cadwalladr has experienced organized online violence, which has exposed her to SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) suits in the UK, and she has written powerfully about Ayyub's case. Nigerian investigative journalist Kiki Mordi, 2020 winner of ICFJ's Michael Elliott Award, was subjected to severe online violence after making a BBC documentary about sexual harassments.

All three women will share their experiences and strategies to fight back during this Frontline Club event in partnership with ICFJ and RSF. They will join prominent media freedom lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, who represents Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa. ICFJ's Deputy Vice President and Global Director of Research, Dr. Julie Posetti, will moderate the discussion. Register to join virtually or in-person here.

Key questions to be tackled include: Can the platforms be held accountable for enabling the abuse of women journalists? What more can news organizations do to address online violence - especially against freelance journalists? And what do States need to do to protect women journalists from the scourge of gender-based online violence?