Gender bias attacks escalate online for female journalists
São Paulo, December 12, 2024—Female journalists experienced the majority of online and offline attacks against the press during the 2024 Brazilian municipal elections, found a report published today by the Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor), a coalition of civil society organizations working to protect press freedom and freedom of expression in Brazil, which the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is a member.
The report found criticism of female journalists was often followed by misogynistic attacks and comments on their physical appearance. Female journalists received 50.8% of the attacks while only representing 45.9% of the total number of professionals monitored.
Online attacks against female journalists were significant, underscoring a concerning trend of journalists harassed online in an attempt to intimidate or force them into silence. On Instagram, female journalists were the target of 68.3% of the total attacks and on X they experienced 53% of attacks. Vera Magalhães, host of Roda Viva, a popular interview show on TV Cultura, and political analyst for CNN Brasil, received 32.3% of the attacks on Instagram, demonstrating the targeted nature of online abuse.
Black journalists were also subject to targeting amid the 2024 Brazilian municipal elections. Pedro Borges, co-founder of the news portal Alma Preta Jornalismo, was the victim of racist attacks on social media following an interview with right-wing candidate Pablo Marçal (PRTB) on TV Cultura’s Roda Viva program.
The Coalition in Defense of Journalism proposes a series of recommendations to address the challenges faced by journalists in Brazil during elections. These include strengthening public policies to protect journalists and holding aggressors accountable both online and offline.
Additionally, the coalition suggested the review of abusive judicial practices and development of more effective mechanisms by digital platforms to curb online attacks. Media organizations are also urged to adopt security and support policies that provide institutional and psychological assistance to media professionals.
The monitoring was done in partnership with the Internet and Data Science Lab (Labic) of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES) and the digital research center ITS Rio, and covers the period between August 15 and October 27, 2024.
###
About the Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.
The Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor) is comprised of Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism), Ajor (Digital Journalism Association), Article 19, Fenaj (National Union of Journalists), Committee to Protect Journalists, Instituto Palavra Aberta, Instituto Vladimir Herzog, Instituto Tornavoz, Intervozes, Jeduca (Education Journalists Association) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Read the executive summary in English.
Read the full report in Portuguese here.
