Italy: CFWIJ Condemns The Online Harassment Faced By Journalist Silvia Bergamin

Location: Italy
Date: March 7, 2021

Journalist Silvia Bergamin received vile and abusive comments over Facebook after the publication of one of her articles. In a Facebook group, Silvia received over 60 deeply gendered and hateful comments following her report on the arrest of a thirty-year-old for possession of drugs. Silvia commented on the misogynistic culture that pervades social media platforms as well as the news media industry, expressing her discontent over the incident. The Veneto Journalists Union and the Paduan Assostampa have come out in support of the journalist, denouncing the attack.

The incident took place on Sunday when it came to light that in a Facebook group targeting journalists, Silvia’s coverage of a possession of drug case was brought up, in response to which she received extremely sexist vitriol by members of the group. Silvia spoke to a local publication expressing her grief and anger over the incident. “I would never have expected it. Of course our profession exposes you, it can create discontent, I would never have expected such an avalanche of hatred. What hurts most is the discriminatory nature of this aggression because I am a woman. And also the fact that the right to press and to be informed as a value, as a collective right, is not recognized.”

Silvia also expressed her intention to take the matter to court, “Such violence has no justification. I will report the incident and any compensation will be donated to the anti-violence center in Padua,” she said.

She received support from journalist unions and other civil society groups, who made it clear that such targeting of a journalist should not have a place in a democratic society. President Stefano Edel of Paduan Assostampa guaranteed complete support in case Silvia pursues the matter legally. "Unfortunately, it is not the first time that we have seen how the work of journalists is the target of provocations that we can no longer accept. Those who do their job correctly, regardless of gender, must be defended and protected without "ifs" or "buts",” he said in a statement.

"Actions of this kind," claims the Union of Journalists of the Veneto, "should not be underestimated or ignored or trivialized: we need to react strongly and decisively against this.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends its support to SIlvia Bergamin and condemns the rampant online hate that women journalists are regularly subject to. It cannot be denied that digital attitudes have real life consequences and constantly being targeted with sexist accusations and gendered insults is a way to silence journalists. That is not just a threat to press freedom but to the democratic principles the country claims to abide by. This is also another example of the sexism and hate enabled by social media giants. Facebook, in particular, has become notorious for providing a regular platform to hateful rhetoric without any checks and balances.

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.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.