Cited by 21Stalking, Cyberstalking, and HarassmentJournalism and Media StudiesWorkplace Violence and Bullying

Beyond “Online Notice-Me”: Analysing Online Harassment Experiences of Journalists in Nigeria

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Uwalaka, Temple, Amadi, Fred·2023·Journalism Studies

Abstract

Journalists are increasingly reporting that online harassment has become a normative part of their lives, and that online harassment experience induces fatigue, anxiety, and selfcensorship on them.Drawing on semi-structured interviews with journalists in Nigeria, this study reports that journalists experienced acute, chronic or perennial, and escalatory harassments of intense nature.The study indicates that acute forms of online harassments were dismissed, amongst others as "online show-off", "online banter" and "online notice-me".Thereby misrecognising online harassments as forms of efficiency-focused media criticism.Our data further show that gender is not a triggering factor to online harassment of journalists.However, political, and investigative reporting is seen as a factor.Journalists reported improved systematic intervention from media organisations and their individual coping strategies, including engaging in self-censorship among others, as coping strategies for online harassment.Suggestions for future research areas were delineated.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Uwalaka, T., & Amadi, F.
Affiliations
  • University of Canberra (AU)
  • Rivers State University (NG)
Corresponding author
Uwalaka, Temple
Venue
Journalism Studies
Published
2023-09-25
Volume
24
Issue
15
Pages
1937-1956
ISSN
  • 1461-670X (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-9699
OpenAlex
W4387018273
Cited by
21
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2
FWCI
9.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Journalism Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Journalism and Media Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
Keywords
online harassment, journalists, Nigeria, self-censorship, coping strategies, media criticism, investigative journalism, political journalism, media companies

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