In this episode of Decoding Disinformation, we delve into the alarming threats faced by environmental journalists in Italy, as highlighted in the case study ‘A Bad Climate:Untold threats to climate and environmental journalists in Italy‘. The discussion reveals the chilling effects of online harassment, legal intimidation, and the systemic issues that silence many journalists. Through personal stories and quantitative analysis, the episode uncovers the patterns of attacks and the need for institutional support to protect journalists covering critical environmental issues.
Key takeaways
- Environmental journalists in Italy face significant threats.
- 114 cases of environmental threats were identified, likely an underestimate.
- Online harassment often goes unreported by journalists.
- Freelancers feel isolated and lack resources for support.
- Local journalists are particularly vulnerable to attacks.
- The report combines qualitative and quantitative analysis.
- An ecosystem of online hate targets journalists systematically.
- Institutional support for journalists is improving but needs to expand.
Make sure to subscribe to “Decoding Disinformation” podcast series! You can find us here:
- YouTube
- Spotify
- Follow more IPI Podcasts here: IPI Podcasts.
In this episode:
- Guests: Marta Frigerio and Gianluca Liva, journalists and authors of the investigation.
- Producer & Host: Javier Luque, head of digital media and online safety at IPI.
Related links mentioned in the episode:
- The Observatory of Disinformation Narratives Against the Media
- IPI-led Decoding Disinformation project
Other episodes in this series:
Season 3
Episode 1: Climate journalism and disinformation: The floods in Valencia
Episode 2: The silent storm: Environmental journalism in Italy
Episode 3: Operation “Grinning Squinting Face”: Attacks on Faktograf’s Climate portal
Episode 4: Weather forecasts under fire: Attacks against science-based climate reporting
Season 2
Episode 1: How Austria’s far right sows distrust in media
Episode 2: France at tilting point as journalists face far-right disinfo attacks
Episode 3: A perfect storm: Climate journalism under attack in Croatia
Episode 4: Operation Overload: Draining fact-checkers’ resources
Season 1
Episode 2: How journalists investigate the far right
Episode 3: Fact-checkers targeted by populists in Europe
Episode 4: When disinformation campaigns fuel hate and harassment
Episode 5: Alexander Roth – Smeared and threatened by the far-right next door
Episode 6: Franziska Tschinderle – Attacked by Orbán’s state media
___________
This podcast series is part of the project Decoding the disinformation playbook of populism in Europe, which is supported by the European Media and Information Fund, managed by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Disclaimer:
The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.