Women journalists in certain African countries have encountered extreme online harassment due to their journalism and/or for having a public profile, according to a 2014 study (Barton & Storm). This has not abated, with 73% of women journalists saying they experienced harassment and bullying on platforms such as X and Facebook, according to 2022 research by Julie Posetti and Nabeelah Shabbir in their study, The Chilling: Global Study of Online Violence Against Women Journalists.

Edited by ICFJ’s Dr. Julie Posetti and Nabeelah Shabbir, the study draws on the testimonies of more than 850 international women journalists who were surveyed and interviewed by a team of international researchers led by ICFJ’s research division.

Glenda Daniels an associate Professor and the Secretary General of the SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) speaks on the assaults on journalists’ safety at the M20 event today.

Dr Glenda Daniels at #M20Summit outlines that journalists are no longer caught in the crossfire, they are being deliberately targeted for the work they do, with killings, kidnappings, and online violence escalating worldwide.

— Media20 (@Media20ZA) September 2, 2025

INFOGRAPHIC: Women journalists experiencing a wide range of online violence

Online violence against women journalists by SABC Digital News

[LISTEN] SANEF advocates for better working conditions for SA Journalists https://t.co/AmKFzgwP4j #updateatnoon #sabcnews

— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) September 1, 2025

Text on this article first appeared on the M20 Policy Brief 7