UN catalogues ‘chilling tide of abuse’ against female journalists

Misogyny, bigotry and threats cut public trust in critical media', warns report after major investigation

An epidemic of online violence against female journalists worldwide is undermining their reporting, spilling over into real-life attacks and harassment, and puts their health and professional prospects in jeopardy, the UN has warned.

The avalanche of misogynistic abuse and threats is not only damaging women working in media, it is also weaponised to undercut public trust in critical journalism and facts in general", a report commissioned by the UN's cultural agency Unesco has found.