Canada: Global News Host Supriya Dwivedi Resigns After Being Targeted By Racist Threats
Location: Canada
Date: December 2, 2020
Global News’ The Morning Show host, Supriya Dwivedi, resigned after being targeted by online racist threats. She claimed the outlet allowed false narratives about refugees, Muslims and other groups on air. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the station’s negligence. We call on Canadian authorities to ensure Supriya and her family’s safety.
The Global News radio host also filed a complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on the matter. Supriya alleged that the company's refusal to apply journalistic standards on the radio would encourage racist comments and threats of violence against her.
According to Vice World News, Supriya’s resignation letter stated she had left due to Global News’ failure to act on her persistent complaints. Supriya raised her concerns about the misinformation spread by her colleagues, including false narratives about refugees, Muslims, Sikhs and other target groups. In a letter to Ward Smith, vice president of Global News, she pointed out when she fact-checked the content of her show, it led to more online attacks against her.
“I can no longer be part of an ecosystem that tolerates and, in some cases, actively sows division and discord,” Supriya wrote in her resignation letter to Smith. She added that she was targeted in an online smear campaign, including a rape threat towards her 17-month old daughter.
“As a female, racialized journalist, I have been subject to rape threats against me and my 17-month old daughter and abhorrent statements from members of the public when I attempt to counter and correct the misinformation and false narratives promoted by other hosts and guests on the station.” she asserted.
The journalist announced her resignation on her Twitter account. In her message, she called attention to the overwhelming threats and their harmful impact. Following her last show, she thanked her audience for their support over the years.
As some of you may have just heard on air, after submitting my resignation to Corus early last month, today was my last show. Without turning this into an annoyingly long thread, a few things: thank you so much to the listeners over the last 4 years. It's been 1/
— Supriya Dwivedi (@supriyadwivedi) November 27, 2020
Dwivedi is a successful journalist who, until last Friday, hosted The Morning Show on Global News Radio 640 Toronto for four years.
CFWIJ condemns Global News’ silence regarding the aired misinformation targeting marginalized groups, as well as their failure to support Supriya. Many journalists are vulnerable to online smear campaigns as a result of the media outlet’s inadequate policies. We caution once again that the lack of protective measures can be detrimental to both the careers and well-being of journalists. We urge the Canadian authorities to take action and ensure the journalist’s safety.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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