View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. PG Podcast
September 15, 2022updated 07 Oct 2022 7:16am

Future of Media Explained podcast 14: Online abuse and what to do about it

By Charlotte Tobitt

Online abuse towards journalists has become an endemic problem since the rise of social media.

A Unesco survey last year found 73% of female journalists worldwide had experienced hostility online and said this had a “chilling” effect – but all demographics are affected.

Last year Reach created an industry-first role, an online safety editor, and appointed Rebecca Whittington to lead efforts internally and externally to tackle the problem.

[Read more: ‘This isn’t an acceptable part of the job’: How journalists and publishers can tackle online abuse with Reach online safety editor]

Her job involves both supporting staff who are affected and liaising with the likes of social media platforms and the Government to call for wider action against abuse.

Whittington joined Press Gazette UK editor Charlotte Tobitt to reveal how the first nine months of the job have gone, what she has been able to put into action so far, and why she is a “critical friend” of Meta and Twitter.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

How to subscribe to Press Gazette’s Future of Media Explained podcast

1. In your browser

You can use the player above to listen in your browser right now. Future of Media Explained is published every week.

You could bookmark the Future of Media Explained homepage on Acast.

And if you sign up for our Future of Media newsletter you will receive an email link to the latest show every Thursday.

2. In a podcast app

The Future of Media Explained is available on all major podcast apps including: Apple PodcastsSpotify and  Acast.

Or search for Future of Media Explained wherever you get your podcasts

3. On your smart speaker

If you have an Amazon Echo, Google Home or Apple HomePod smart speaker, ask it to “play the latest episode of the Press Gazette Future of Media Explained podcast”. The same command also works with virtual assistants on mobile devices.

Press Gazette is hosting the Future of Media Technology Conference. For more information, visit NSMG.live

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network