South Asian journalists face rising online threats, self-censorship

Journalists across South Asia are grappling with a surge in online trolling, harassment, and a pervasive culture of self-censorship, a panel discussion in Dhaka revealed. The challenges, amplified by digital media, create a "level field" of threats despite individual countries facing unique issues.

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Protecting common people from misinformation and disinformation is now the main challenge.

Kanak Mani Dixit, founding editor of Nepal-based Himal Southasian, noted that social media's direct reach allows anger over reporting to impact journalists immediately. This has led many to "look for which way the wind is blowing" or remain silent, a stark contrast to the print era. Shafiqul Alam, editor of Daily Waadaa in Bangladesh, added that while newspapers could once be shut down, media control now extends to ownership and financial influence. He also observed a decline in text journalism, with video becoming the dominant news source and revenue stream.

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There is so much trolling going on that there is a massive level of self-censorship, particularly among the opinion-makers and among the journalists.

Bangladesh's Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon agreed with the concerns but reframed the debate, stating the main challenge has shifted from press freedom to combating misinformation and disinformation. Suhashini Haider, diplomatic affairs editor of India's The Hindu, emphasized that society must protect journalists from attacks, regardless of agreement with their reporting. "Journalism has to be something that people don't like. It's not a popularity contest," she asserted, urging a critical look at attacks on the press. She added that journalists face risks from protesters, governments, police, and social media users.

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Self-censorship is happening all over.