With regard to combating online harassment in the newsroom, management should:
- Acknowledge that online harassment is a serious concern and that an attack on one staff member is an attack on the entire media organization. Communicate this position regularly to the newsroom.
- Consider issuing public statements in response to selected cases of online abuse.
- Include the targets of online attacks in decision-making processes that affect them.
- Adopt structural changes in the newsroom to create a conducive environment in which reporting online abuse is not stigmatized. Ensure that sufficient resources – time and funding – are allocated to maintain and update these new structures.
- Make legal and psychological counselling available free of charge, as far as the organization’s resources allow. Include these costs as part of the budget planning process.
- Ensure a proper moderation of discussion pages so as to limit, to the extent possible, the amount of online abuse present there.
- Make sure journalists are aware of the attacks they may face, in particular when covering certain topics, and know which support mechanisms are available to address them.
- Freelancers should be given access to the same resources and support mechanisms as staffers members. Management should show appreciation that the precarious working conditions under which freelancers operate increases the burden and the consequences of online harassment.