Threats Against Female Journalists Undermine Reporting, Calls for Support Systems Grow

Female journalists in South Korea are increasingly facing threats and harassment, which significantly undermines their reporting capacity and personal safety. A forum organized by the Korea Female Journalists Association on July 17th addressed the critical issue of protecting journalists from these escalating dangers.

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The reality for female journalists is that they become victims of crime simply for doing their jobs, targeted by people they don't even know.

Kwak A-ram, a culture desk reporter at The Chosun Ilbo, shared her harrowing experience of six years of stalking and digital harassment by an unknown individual. Despite being a journalist with access to considerable social resources, Kwak's case exemplifies the vulnerability of women in the profession. The perpetrator, who learned of Kwak through her articles and podcasts, disseminated sexually objectifying content and false information online, even sending lewd drawings from prison.

The problem extends beyond individual cases. A report by UN Women surveying 641 female journalists and media professionals across 119 countries revealed that 75% experienced online violence during their work, with 42% reporting that these attacks escalated to offline threats. This pervasive threat leads to a chilling effect on reporting, as journalists may self-censor or avoid sensitive topics.

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When female journalists are subjected to ridicule and threats, self-censorship intensifies, making it difficult to deeply investigate dangerous issues. This not only lowers the morale of individual journalists but also weakens society's understanding of issues like dating violence, dating murder, and hate crimes.

Experts emphasize that the cumulative effect of such harassment can lead to severe self-censorship, making it difficult for journalists to delve deeply into risky issues. This not only impacts individual journalists but also weakens society's understanding of critical issues like domestic violence, femicide, and hate crimes. The paradox is that women journalists often face greater risks in areas where their insights and sustained attention are most needed.

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Domestic media organizations should establish internal control towers and operate a 24-hour one-stop emergency reporting system.

To combat this, the forum proposed solutions inspired by the Australian public broadcaster ABC's approach, which includes pre-assessing the potential for attacks on articles and establishing a system for reporting and escalating threats to relevant government agencies. Korean media organizations were urged to build internal "control towers" and implement 24-hour, one-stop emergency reporting systems. Kwak A-ram also stressed the need for clear internal guidelines on reporting criminal acts during reporting and preventing secondary victimization.

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When a crime occurs during reporting, there is a need for internal reporting guidelines and guidelines to prevent secondary victimization.