Free Speech Under Pressure: The Effect of Online Harassment on Literary Writers

doi:10.17645/MAC.V8I4.3252

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Free Speech Under Pressure: The Effect of Online Harassment on Literary Writers

Journal Article•DOI•

Free Speech Under Pressure: The Effect of Online Harassment on Literary Writers

Juliane Wegner¹, Elizabeth Prommer¹, Carlos Collado Seidel²•Institutions (2)

University of Rostock¹, University of Marburg²

15 Oct 2020-Media and Communication-Vol. 8, Iss: 4, pp 145-157

TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of 526 literature writers in Germany revealed various aspects of hate speech, online harassment, and even physical assaults, and three quarters are concerned about freedom of expression in Germany.

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Abstract: In the perception of writers in Germany, free speech is under strong pressure. A survey study, in which 526 literature writers took part, reveals innumerable aspects of hate speech, online harassment, and even physical assaults. Every second person has already experienced assaults on his or her person and is also aware of attacks on colleagues. Three quarters are concerned about freedom of expression in Germany and complain of an increase in threats, intimidation, and hateful reactions. The research project was developed in collaboration between the Institute for Media Research, University of Rostock, and the PEN Center Germany.

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Journal Article•DOI•

Editorial: Freedom of Expression and the Online Abyss

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Maria Elliot¹, Kristoffer Holt¹•Institutions (1)

Linnaeus University¹

15 Oct 2020-Media and Communication

TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the state of the debate surrounding freedom of expression in the field of communication studies and present four original articles dealing with freedom of speech in contemporary media from different perspectives.

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Abstract: This introduction to the thematic issue Freedom of Expression, Democratic Discourse and the Social Media discusses the state of the debate surrounding freedom of expression in the field of communication studies and presents four original articles dealing with freedom of speech in contemporary media from different perspectives.

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2 citations

Cites background from "Free Speech Under Pressure: The Eff..."

...In their study of Germanwriters,Wegner et al. (2020) found that half of the respondents have personal experience of being harassed online....
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...Wegner et al. (2020) emphasize the fact that it is not only journalists who are put in harm’s way, the silencing of other voices is indeed a reality and is equally harmful and problematic....
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Book Chapter•DOI•

Insults, Criminalisation, and Calls for Violence: Forms of Hate Speech and Offensive Language in German User Comments on Immigration

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Sünje Paasch-Colberg, Joachim Trebbe, Christian Strippel, Martin Emmer

01 Jan 2022

1 citations

Book Chapter•DOI•

Hass in Kommentaren: Blockieren oder Einmischen?

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Zhiqun Yu¹•Institutions (1)

University of Münster¹

01 Jan 2022

References

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Journal Article•DOI•

Strukturwandel der Öffentlichkeit

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Jürgen Habermas

01 Dec 1964-British Journal of Sociology

933 citations

"Free Speech Under Pressure: The Eff..." refers background in this paper

...Here, the public spheres of the digital realm provide opportunities and ample potential to heighten the visibility of pre- viously so-called marginalized groups and perspectives (Habermas, 1990)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

‘You really have to have a thick skin’: A cross-cultural perspective on how online harassment influences female journalists:

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Gina Masullo Chen¹, Paromita Pain¹, Victoria Y. Chen², Madlin Mekelburg, Nina Springer³, Franziska Troger³ - Show less +2 more•Institutions (3)

University of Texas at Austin¹, National Chung Cheng University², Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich³

01 Jul 2020-Journalism: Theory, Practice & Criticism

TL;DR: In this article, 75 female journalists who work or have worked in Germany, India, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States of America reveal that they face rampant online gendered discrimination.

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Abstract: In-depth interviews with 75 female journalists who work or have worked in Germany, India, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America reveal that they face rampant online gendered ...

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132 citations

"Free Speech Under Pressure: The Eff..." refers background in this paper

...According to Chen et al. (2018), Eckert (2017), and Stahel and Schoen (2019) women and people of colour are more likely to receive online harassment....
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...Avoidance includes limiting audience engagement, adapting reporting behaviour, and thinking about quitting journalism (Chen et al., 2018)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Experiencing Hate Speech: Perceptions and Responses to Anti‐Semitism and Antigay Speech

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Laura Leets¹•Institutions (1)

Stanford University¹

01 Jan 2002-Journal of Social Issues

TL;DR: This article examined how people experience hate speech and assessed people's perceptions regarding both the antecedents and outcomes of such expression targeted at Jews and homosexuals, and found that the most common response strategies were passive and participants often sought support.

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Abstract: This study examines how people experience hate speech. Specifically, it assesses people’s perceptions regarding both the antecedents and outcomes of such expression targeted at Jews and homosexuals. One hundred twenty university students read (and in some cases also supplied) real-life epithets aimed at their social identity and then provided an assessment of their (a) perceived short- and long-term consequences, (b) understanding of the motive behind the message, (c) response to the sender, and (d) response to the message in terms of soliciting social support. A content analysis of the accounts produced the following patterns: (a) short- and long-term consequences mirrored a three-stage sequence found within other traumatic experiences; (b) respondents described motives as enduring, not situational, states; (c) the most common response strategies were passive; and (d) participants often sought support. The discussion focuses on implications for interventions that may mitigate negative consequences of hate speech.

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123 citations

"Free Speech Under Pressure: The Eff..." refers background in this paper

...Digital public spheres play a key role in the emergence of so-called hate speech and shitstorms (cf. Duggan et al., 2014; Leets, 2002; Nolden, 2020; Rieger, Schmitt, & Frischlich, 2018; Springer, 2014)....
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...Obermaier et al. (2018, p. 502) sum up: Hate speech, especially online hate, directed at journalists might be problematic because it carries the potential of negative effects on journalists themselves and, in turn, on journalistic work (cf. Leets, 2002; Seethaler et al., 2019, p. 246)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Journalism Under Threat: Intimidation and harassment of Swedish journalists

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Monica Löfgren Nilsson, Henrik Örnebring

15 Apr 2016-Journalism Practice

TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the situation in Sweden, a country with strong de facto and de jure safeguards of journalistic freedom and autonomy, and reported the findings from a representative survey of Swedish journalists where three themes are analysed: the extent of harassment, the forms of harassment and the consequences of intimidation and harassment.

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Abstract: Previous studies of intimidation and harassment of journalists have (rightly) focused on non-democratic and authoritarian nations and/or transitional/emerging democracies. In this article, we examine the situation in Sweden, a country with strong de facto and de jure safeguards of journalistic freedom and autonomy. We report the findings from a representative survey of Swedish journalists where three themes are analysed: the extent of harassment, the forms of harassment, and the consequences of intimidation and harassment. The results show that a third of the respondents had experienced threats at work in the past year, and an overwhelming majority said they had received offensive and insulting comments. Intimidation and harassment also had consequences, both professionally and personally, such as fear and self-censorship. We therefore argue that it is time to add the dimension of external pressure and threats to the discussion of journalistic autonomy—including in countries like Sweden.

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89 citations

"Free Speech Under Pressure: The Eff..." refers result in this paper

...These reports are in accordance with the findings of most of the research that looked at journalism (cf. Betche & Hoffmann, 2018; Binns, 2017; Löfgren Nilsson & Örnebring, 2016)....
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The dark side of Guardian comments

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Becky Gardiner, Mahana Mansfield, Ian Anderson, Monica Ulmanu, Daan Louter, Josh Holder - Show less +2 more

12 Apr 2016

TL;DR: This article found that articles written by women and people of colour attracted higher levels of abusive and / or disruptive comments "below the line" compared to other writers of the same gender and race.

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Abstract: Guardian commissioned research into the 70m comments left on its site since 2006. Looking at patterns of commenting behaviour we discovered that articles written by women and people of colour attracted higher levels of abusive and / or disruptive comments "below the line". Of the 10 Opinion writers who received the most abuse / disruptive behaviour, eight were women (four white, four non-white) and two were black men.

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88 citations