An Intersectional Analysis of Aotearoa New Zealand Journalists' Online and Offline Experiences of Abuse, Threats and Violence

Criticism towards journalists has increased significantly since the internet created easy and anonymous communication and has turned more abusive and threatening in recent years, becoming a regular feature of journalists' work environment, particularly for women. This article presents survey data about the amount and nature of online and offline abuse, threats and violence experienced by journalists at Aotearoa New Zealand's largest news media company, Stuff. All respondents had experienced abuse, violence and/or threats, which they widely considered to be part of the job, but women received more identity and appearance-based abuse and men experienced more in-person threats of, and actual violence. Gender plays a part in how the journalists cope with the abrasive abuse received because of their job, with many more women and particularly Maori women considering leaving the profession. In line with calls for more intersectional analysis of journalists' workplace experiences, our study considers the complex and nuanced ways that ethnicity intersects with gender to shape Maori and Pakeha journalists' encounters with abuse, threats and violence. For instance, our subset of Maori women journalists experienced the highest rates of offline threats and violence.

Automated summary

Criticism towards journalists, especially women, has increased significantly with the rise of the internet. This article presents survey data showing that all respondents, male and female, have experienced abuse, violence, and threats. However, women journalists receive more abuse based on their appearance and identity, while men journalists face more in-person threats and actual violence. The intersection of gender and ethnicity plays a role in how journalists cope with the abuse, with many women and particularly Maori women considering leaving the profession.