United Kingdom: CFWIJ Condemns The Online Troll Attack On Sonja Mclaughlan

Location: United Kingdom, London
Date: March 1, 2021

Reporter Sonja McLaughlan was targeted with vile online attacks following her coverage of a rugby match. The abuses hurled at her took an emotional toll. The attack was so intense in nature that her employer firm and the rugby board extended messages of comfort and support.

Sonja McLaughlan was tasked to cover the Wales v England match that took place on Saturday, February 27. However, following her coverage McLaughlan received misogynistic and abusive attacks on social media. The online trolling was so vicious that Mclaughlin was forced to tweet in response, in which she angrily called out her attackers for being “toxic” and “appalling”, claiming their tweets had left her in tears.

Toxic, embarrassing, disgraceful, appalling. Just some of the feedback I’ve had.

Thanks for using @ sign so it’s all hit home.

Now imagine getting inundated with abuse for doing your job.

In my car crying. Hope you’re happy

— Sonja McLaughlan (@Sonjamclaughlan) February 27, 2021

On Sunday, England Rugby responded to Sonja and extended a message of support claiming that it is not okay that she be attacked for merely doing her job.

Toxic, embarrassing, disgraceful, appalling. Just some of the feedback I’ve had.

Thanks for using @ sign so it’s all hit home.

Now imagine getting inundated with abuse for doing your job.

In my car crying. Hope you’re happy

— Sonja McLaughlan (@Sonjamclaughlan) February 27, 2021

Guinness Six Nations extended support as well, claiming that respect is an important value of the sport and any kind of abuse is unacceptable in the conversation.

Toxic, embarrassing, disgraceful, appalling. Just some of the feedback I’ve had.

Thanks for using @ sign so it’s all hit home.

Now imagine getting inundated with abuse for doing your job.

In my car crying. Hope you’re happy

— Sonja McLaughlan (@Sonjamclaughlan) February 27, 2021

Her employer organization BBC Sports also released a statement, condemning the hate she received, and backed their reporter stating that, “Sonja has long been a key member of our Six Nations team and she absolutely has our full support.”

Sonja was attacked for apparently being partial to the English side in her coverage of the game. However, it is important to understand that whatever the case may be, abusive online attacks can never be justified. Sports journalism has remained a difficult space for women journalists to enter due to prevalent sexist attitudes. To silence the few voices that are present there is despicable behaviour.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attack on Sonja, and offers her our full support. Women will carve out space for themselves in the world for sports reporting, come what may, and we are glad to see that sports organizations are backing women’s voices.

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.