While mental health is becoming more of an open topic for discussion in many industries, the impact on the media industry is far more prevalent than people may understand. Journalists are under attack.
News Media Canada is one of many industry supporters for the first-ever survey of online harassment against journalists and media professionals, which found that attacks are on the rise and have severe repercussions for individuals and the industry. The survey was hosted by Ipsos in early October 2021 and includes responses from 1,093 journalists and media workers.
Almost three-quarters (72%) of Canadian journalists experienced some form of harassment in the past year. This pervasive harassment is most common online, reported by 65% of journalists. One in five experience online harassment weekly or more frequently. The most frequent online harassment is through social media platforms, and those who suffer daily are more likely to say it comes through their professional Twitter account (66%).
This type of harassment is personal and sometimes includes death threats. More than eight out of ten who have experienced online harassment believe occurrences are rising.
“The impact of online abuse is devastating — One in four experience mental health challenges due to the harassment, and one in three have considered leaving journalism or the media industry in the last 12 months. Losing these voices is bad for democracy.” For more information on this study, visit https://nmc-mic.ca/2021/11/10/canadian-journalists-increasingly-under-attack-online-says-ipsos-survey/.
For more information and support for mental health issues, please see the following links:
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- National Advertising Benevolent Society
- Canadian Mental Health Association
