ABSTRACT
The chapters document a multitude of factors pushing journalists to self-censor out of fear of repercussions such as government pressures, police brutality, social violence, corruption, misogyny and gendered stereotyping, surveillance, economic factors and more. The range of causes of self-censorship are grounded in the actions (and perceived future actions) of a variety of actors, including state and government officials, commercial enterprises, civil society groups and citizens in general. Self-censorship due to perceived risk hinders (critical) reporting on a range on topics of societal importance, including corruption, organized crime, politics, religion, sex, homosexuality, minority groups, and human rights violations in general. Risk associated with publishing also entails that journalists sometimes avoid seeking out information out of fear of knowing.
Possible measures that can be taken by journalists and newsrooms in order to minimize risks and decrease self-censorship among journalists include safety training, organizational and psychological support, moderation of online comments sections, gender policies in newsrooms, and collective efforts to share information and “speak out” against prosecution, harassment and other safety risks. NGOs and other civil society initiatives supporting journalism can help strengthen laws protecting journalists online and offline, improve netiquette, gender equality and push governments to respect freedom of speech and the media.
