United Kingdom: CFWIJ Condemns The Persistent Harassment Against Journalist Rosamund Urwin
Location: United Kingdom
Date: May 28, 2021
Rosamund Urwin, a columnist and senior feature writer at the London Evening Standard, shared the story of persistent harassment she has faced for the past two years. In a Twitter thread on May 14, the journalist shared that the stalker responsible for harassing her has arrived in London. Rosamund stated that the last time he was in the area he visited her office before going on the run and remained untraceable for days. While explaining the details of the ordeal, she revealed how the unsettling experience left her emotionally drained.
She explained the agony of being unable to locate the stalker for many days, leaving her distraught over his whereabouts. The persistent threat to her safety has caused a great deal of anxiety to Rosamund, affecting her mental and physical health. It is extremely difficult for a journalist to continue her work while constantly fearing a potential attack. CFWIJ is horrified to learn that the online attacks have morphed into a dangerous reality for a working journalist. We urge law enforcement and cybersecurity authorities to apprehend the stalker to provide the needed protection to Rosamund Urwin.
Rosamund shared that the harassment started on Twitter. Since then, she has scaled back her activity on the social media platform. She mentioned that journalists are often judged for their social media following and how such sites can be particularly menacing towards both women and ethnic minorities. Rosamund highlighted that she is aware of many women journalists who have experienced incidents far worse than hers. She has been subjected to death threats and a barrage of abuse for the past two years, including while she was pregnant.
It was a horrific experience and left me emotionally drained. He was on the run for days last time and afterwards my hair came out in clumps. Trying to do your job while always looking over your shoulder is exhausting.
— Rosamund Urwin (@RosamundUrwin) May 14, 2021
The journalist expressed that the onslaught of abuse came her way when she broke the Operation Yellowhammer— a no-deal Brexit— story in August 2019. It was then when Rosamund realized that she was being targeted for doing her job. She also recalled when former MP and chancellor Michael Gove tweeted her directly and initiated a series of abuse. The pattern is similarly repeated whenever someone with a popular platform says something critical, inciting incessant abuse from their followers.
It was a horrific experience and left me emotionally drained. He was on the run for days last time and afterwards my hair came out in clumps. Trying to do your job while always looking over your shoulder is exhausting.
— Rosamund Urwin (@RosamundUrwin) May 14, 2021
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands that authorities track down and take serious action against stalkers who prey on women journalists. We also acknowledge the efforts and dedicated work of Rosamund and fellow journalists who continue to pursue their passion despite the ever-present dangers. CFWIJ offers our full support to Rosamund through this tumultuous time.
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.