JAWS Members Voice Support of Press Freedom and Targeted Journalists
On this World Press Freedom Day, the members of Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) add their voices of solidarity to the multitude of voices around the world in support of journalists who are targets of press freedom.
We especially call on governments and law enforcement personnel to thoroughly investigate online attacks of women journalists. According to an International Federation of Journalists survey, roughly half of the women journalists from 50 countries, including the United States, said they faced physical and verbal abuse in the course of their work. And women continue to be targeted by online trolls who threaten them with lewd and violent acts.
We also urge for the universal support of local news coverage. “Women are crucial to covering their communities around the world,” said JAWS President Mira Lowe. “Their perspectives and lived experiences help to ensure a more accurate portrayal of our society. JAWS will continue to work with our partners in the United States and abroad to ensure a better, more equitable work environment for women journalists.”
JAWS embraces this year’s WPFD theme – “Information as a Public Good” – and its goal to “draw attention to the special role of journalism in producing news as verified information in the public interest.”
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