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I wrote for the i about the unique kind of abuse I get as the BBCâs specialist reporter, investigating online disinformation and covering the casualties of viral conspiracies.
I love my job - but want to highlight perils of digital frontline.
https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/qanon-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-online-abuse-journalism-reporting-799670
I wrote for the i about the unique kind of abuse I get as the BBCâs specialist reporter, investigating online disinformation and covering the casualties of viral conspiracies. I love my job - but want to highlight perils of digital frontline.
https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/qanon-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-online-abuse-journalism-reporting-799670
Read online or in print!
This harassment has required increased involvement from security teams at the BBC. My editors â and friends and family â have feared for my safety.
Iâm far from alone. Other BBC journos receive horrific racist, misogynistic and homophobic abuse.
This harassment has required increased involvement from security teams at the BBC. My editors â and friends and family â have feared for my safety.
Iâm far from alone. Other BBC journos receive horrific racist, misogynistic and homophobic abuse.
My job leads me to investigate the impact of conspiracies surrounding the pandemic and US election â interviewing those who receive horrific abuse, have relationships destroyed or lost loved ones.
By doing this, Iâve found myself a target for a specific kind of abuse.
By doing this, Iâve found myself a target for a specific kind of abuse.
Iâve tended to laugh it off.
I can categorically confirm that I do not eat babies. I am not the devilâs whore or a robotic âpsyopâ agent.
Iâve seen this abuse increase as I investigate vaccine views, the antivaxx movement and its impact on those with legitimate worries.
I can categorically confirm that I do not eat babies. I am not the devilâs whore or a robotic âpsyopâ agent.
Iâve seen this abuse increase as I investigate vaccine views, the antivaxx movement and its impact on those with legitimate worries.
Initially I was the focus of those who oppose the existence of the BBC â and, by extension, me.
For the record, I am not a character tumbled from the pages of George Orwellâs Nineteen Eighty-Four.
I investigate the real world impact of viral conspiracies and disinformation.
For the record, I am not a character tumbled from the pages of George Orwellâs Nineteen Eighty-Four.
I investigate the real world impact of viral conspiracies and disinformation.
Itâs important to show empathy and transparency when we report on this increasingly important subject.
Humanising the impact of viral disinformation is more powerful than just branding it and the people who spread it as âbonkersâ. This makes things worse.
Humanising the impact of viral disinformation is more powerful than just branding it and the people who spread it as âbonkersâ. This makes things worse.
Interviewing Brian whose wife died from complications linked to coronavirus after he believed disinfo about the pandemic online, revealed importance of that approach.
He had been called an idiot online - having been exploited by those spreading disinfo. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-52731624
He had been called an idiot online - having been exploited by those spreading disinfo. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-52731624
I am all too aware those I interview are often exposed to a level of abuse that I will never suffer.
Momo, a Black Lives Matter protester I spoke to, received horrible racist harassment online after false claims he had tried to set fire to a flag at the Cenotaph in London.
Momo, a Black Lives Matter protester I spoke to, received horrible racist harassment online after false claims he had tried to set fire to a flag at the Cenotaph in London.
The barrage of emails I received in response to my report was another damning indictment.
The peaceful protester falsely accused of burning the union jack https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-53010198
The peaceful protester falsely accused of burning the union jack https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-53010198
Pile-ons from QAnon followers became part of daily life while I covered the US Election.
But it was worth wading through those threats to speak to people like Candy, whose faith in US democracy was shattered by viral disinformation about voter fraud. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-55009950
But it was worth wading through those threats to speak to people like Candy, whose faith in US democracy was shattered by viral disinformation about voter fraud. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-55009950
I also investigated the impact of conspiracies closer to home - which lead to more abuse.
I interviewed Sebastian Shemirani, whose mum is a leader of Britainâs conspiracy community about his fears for her impact on public health and his relationship. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-54669239
I interviewed Sebastian Shemirani, whose mum is a leader of Britainâs conspiracy community about his fears for her impact on public health and his relationship. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-54669239
Itâs so important to report on these casualties from the digital front line, from Sebastian to Brian to Candy to Momo.
But it comes with its own perils â and that must not be normalised.
Hereâs how I talk to victims of conspiracies! https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-54738471
But it comes with its own perils â and that must not be normalised.
Hereâs how I talk to victims of conspiracies! https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-54738471
Behind a computer screen itâs easy for those who troll you to forget youâre a real person, a 24-year-old woman with a normal life, whose job happens to be sharing the stories of our societyâs also very real casualties of bad information. They need to be told.
Thanks for the brilliant messages today.
Big difference between abuse and criticisms - the latter always welcome.
End of year special and analysis from me about the casualties of viral disinformation out over Christmas for @BBCNews @bbcworldservice
https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/qanon-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-online-abuse-journalism-reporting-799670
Big difference between abuse and criticisms - the latter always welcome.
End of year special and analysis from me about the casualties of viral disinformation out over Christmas for @BBCNews @bbcworldservice
https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/qanon-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-online-abuse-journalism-reporting-799670
Very lucky to have the best editor @mwendling and team of experts - who have also been targets for abuse!
Go follow their excellent journalism
@O_Rob1nson @alistaircoleman @Shayan86 @FloraCarmichael @JackAGoodman @ChrisSGiles @dan_isaacs @Roop1 @rebeccaskippage @hugotwilliams
Go follow their excellent journalism
@O_Rob1nson @alistaircoleman @Shayan86 @FloraCarmichael @JackAGoodman @ChrisSGiles @dan_isaacs @Roop1 @rebeccaskippage @hugotwilliams
