Threat Perception and Avoidance Among US Investigative Journalists

Gerry Lanosga, PhD

September 21, 2023

Threats against journalists: An urgent and growing problem

• One journalist killed every five days on average (Orgeret & Tayeebwa, 2020)
• Online harassment on the rise
• “…a global, multidimensional problem, that affects journalists and countries differently, is caused by multiple perpetrators, and has dramatically changed as a consequence of digital attacks” (Waisbord, 2022)

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Existing scholarship focuses on:

• Global south nations such as Ethiopia and Pakistan (e.g. Workneh, 2022; and Jamil, 2020)
• Consequences of threats – avoidance and ultimate loss to democratic discourse (Kim & Shin, 2022)
• Digital technologies as new vectors for threats, both official and unofficial (Di Salvo, 2022; Löfgren Nilsson & Örnebring, 2016)

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Target: Investigative journalists

• “Few journalistic practices come with more prospects for threats and intimidation than investigative journalism” (Konow-Lund & Høiby, 2021)
• Rich line of research in Latin America (e.g. Higgins Joyce et al., 2022; Saldaña & Mourão, 2018; Vallejo, 2023)
• Self-censorship and precarity (under-employed, under-resourced journalists)
• Strategies for resisting surveillance and threats to personal safety

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Research questions

• RQ1: How safe do journalists feel working in the U.S. today?
• RQ2a: How often have U.S. investigative journalists experienced threats, abuse or violence? 2b: What kinds? 2c: From what sources?
• RQ3a: Personal effects? 3b: Professional effects?

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Method

• Self-administered online survey of U.S.-based professional members of Investigative Reporters & Editors
• Emails to 3,112 professional members; June-August, 2023; three reminders and a prize drawing
• 438 completed responses (14%)

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Questionnaire

• 63 questions
• Some questions replicate previous surveys for comparative research (Willnat et al., 2022; Lanosga & Houston, 2017)
• New batteries probe safety of journalists and newsroom diversity

Gerry Lanosga

September 22, 2023

Demographics

• Gender: 54% women, 44% men
• Race: 80% white, 10% Hispanic/Latino, 7% African-American, 5% Asian/Asian-American
• Age: Average 50, median 44
• Income – One-third earning more than $100,000

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Occupational background

• Years in journalism: Average 21
• Years in investigative: Average 13
• Market size: <100K – 9%; 100K-499,999 – 13%; 500K-999,999 – 9%; >1M – 53% (DK – 13%)
• Non-profit news org? 30% (23% in 2013 survey)

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ1 – How safe do you feel working as a journalist?

• Overall: 55% safe/very safe, 27% neutral, 11% unsafe/very unsafe
• Gender: Men 68% safe/very safe, women 53%
• Experience: Veteran journalists 64% safe/very safe but also 15% unsafe/very unsafe

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ1 – How safe do you feel working as a journalist?

• Race/ethnicity: white 62% safe/very safe, Hispanic/Latino 54%, African-American 51%; Asian/Asian-American 42%
• Employment status: Full-time paid 62% safe/very safe, freelance 46%

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ2 a and b – Frequency and type of threats, abuse or violence

• Frequency over last year: 39% not at all; 7% weekly/monthly; 44% once/a few times
• Verbal abuse: Online 26%, offline 8%
• Bullying: Online 17%, offline 19%
• Intimidation: Online 17%, offline 10%

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ2 a and b – Frequency and type of threats, abuse or violence

• Sexism: Online 11%, offline 6%
• Threats of physical violence: Online 8%, offline 4%
• Racism: Online 6%, offline 3%
• Physical abuse: Online 5%, offline 4%

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ2c – Sources of threats, abuse or violence

• Anonymous people 44%
• Sources/contacts 9%
• Government officials 8%
• Politicians 7%
• Party workers 5%
• Colleagues 2%

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ3a – How affect work?

• Avoid online engagement 19%
• Increased security 17%
• Avoid certain sources 10%
• Self-censorship 6%
• Avoid beats 4%
• Avoid certain stories 4%
• Ask reassignment 1%

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

RQ3b – How affect personally?

• Emotionally/psychologically 31%
• Felt physically unsafe 12%
• Sought medical/psych support 5%
• Reputation damage 3%
• Missed work 3%
• Abuse or violence >1%

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Discussion

• Threats, abuse and violence toward journalists not isolated incidents in U.S.
• Three out of five reported experiencing some kind of hostile action at least once in the last year (see Willnat et al, 2022)
• A not insignificant number of these actions came from officials, politicians and political operatives

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Discussion

• Crucially, threats and other hostile acts can lead journalists down pathways of avoidance such as self-censorship, choosing not to pursue certain stories, and withdrawing from engagement with both sources and audiences.

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Discussion

• Notable gendered and racialized aspects
• Female journalist: “I use my maiden name for work but married name for public records/life. Have needed therapy to manage the health impacts. Do not take the same risks reporting in person as male colleagues who don’t worry about the same things.”

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Discussion

• A few who reported threats or harassment indicated it had little effect on their work or personal life – e.g., “got used to that for 20 years” as one journalist commented despite experiencing hostilities ranging from physical violence to intimidation over the past year
• Such responses couched in journalistic bravado may encourage under-reporting and inhibit meaningful approaches to dealing with an increase in press attacks.

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Discussion

• Other responses make clear that threats and attacks can affect journalistic productivity
• Female reporter who experienced bullying: “Just largely another frustration at work that distracts from the bigger task at hand of doing journalism.”
• Male reporter who experienced intimidation and verbal abuse from both politicians and anonymous individuals: “Increased stress and fatigue. Led to bad health habits (less sleep, less working out, junk food, etc.)”

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Conclusions

• Threats and attacks don’t affect U.S. investigative journalists at same level as Global South counterparts, but they do pose serious problems for some, affecting jobs and mental health
• More acute for women, BIPOC, and precarious

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Conclusions

• Targeted journalists want and need support. One woman journalist who reported stalking and threats said the experience “made me question my employer’s commitment to safety/health and providing appropriate resources”

Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023

Conclusions

• A few final indicators: Those who report feeling unsafe have lower job satisfaction, more pessimism about the future of the field, and a greater perception of public antagonism to investigative reporting.
• Thus, the industry can ill afford to ignore what Waisbord (2022) has called “an urgent challenge in a violent world.”

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Indiana University Media School

September 22, 2023