Harassed, threatened and sued - that's the state of fact-checking in #Europe according to pioneering survey by IPI partner @FaktografHR on the impact of online abuse & #disinformation against fact-checkers, released ahead of #FactCheckingDay
The key finding in this thread ⬇️
@FaktografHR 1/
9 out 10 fact-checking organisations surveyed experienced smear campaigns and online abuse from politicians, government officials, media pundits and public figures.
@FaktografHR 2/
7 out of 10 respondents that experienced online harassment were subjected to campaigns which include prolonged and/or coordinated behavior like stalking, smear campaigns, hate speech, “doxing” or gender-based violence, among others. #FactCheckingDay
@FaktografHR 3/
The frequency of harassment increased during the #coronavirus pandemic. Election periods also serve as catalysts for #disinformation campaigns against fact-checkers. Russia's invasion of #Ukraine also had a similar effect. #FactCheckingDay
@FaktografHR 4/
Most harassment happens online, predominantly on social networks. The second-most frequent channel of harassment is online portals and websites. #FactCheckingDay
@FaktografHR 5/
Fact-checkers tend not to report these attacks to the authorities due to a lack of confidence that their claims will be investigated. #FactCheckingDay
@FaktografHR 6/ @anabrakus: "The results are worrisome, but not surprising. @FaktografHR has faced its fair share of harassment in the last few years – different kinds and types – ranging from anonymous threats of violence and death threats to #SLAPP lawsuits." #FactCheckingDay
@FaktografHR@anabrakus 7/
IPI's Head of Digital Comms. @javierluquem: There is now an “environment in which harassers with a political or economic agenda feel empowered to attack and discredit independent news sources." #FactCheckingDay
Criminal investigation launched against journalist @RusenTakva for “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” due to his Twitter post describing ruling alliance as "right-wing and racist".
Journalist Seyfettin Uygur, who tried to film a new hospital building foundation which allegedly was not laid despite the televized ceremony in the quake-hit #Hatay province, was attacked and threatened.
Journalists Ökkeş Sabah and Aydın Akyürek were physically attacked by members of ruling party AKP while covering clashes between party members during a pre-election meeting in the #Gaziantep province.
What’s changing in #localnews? Just about everything - that’s what IPI found when, supported by @craignewmark, it dived into local #newsmedia around the world. They’re rethinking everything to work out what they need now to sustain vital journalism. 1/14
@craignewmark IPI’s @jacquipark talked to 30+ media leaders and entrepreneurs who are transitioning legacy media or creating new local voices, half in the #USA and half in #Asia, the Pacific, #Africa and #Europe.
Here are some key insights 👇 2/14
@craignewmark@jacquipark 1. Local news media is the most disrupted sector of the media, the most urgently in need of assistance – and the sector with the greatest potential to form the bedrock for a new, stronger media ecosystem. 3/14