Venezuela: Pableysa Ostos Faces Online Smear Campaign
Anonymous Instagram accounts insulting and discrediting the journalist
Location: Venezuela, Bolívar
Date: January 7, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom denounces the recent incidents of online harassment and defamation targeting journalist Pableysa Ostos. This incident not only undermines the integrity of a dedicated journalist but also highlights the pressing issue of targeted online attacks on women in the media. We support her decision to take legal action and urge authorities to investigate her complaint.
An online smear campaign against Pableysa Ostos started on September 1, 2023, when an anonymous Instagram account, identified as "pedroperez_2023," launched baseless accusations linking Ostos to criminal activities.
The poster implied she was associated with illicit groups due to her coverage of the arrests of union leaders in the Bolívar state. The post also called for an investigation into Ostos, tagging high-profile figures such as the Attorney General, President, and Vice President, amplifying its potential impact.
Ostos became aware of this malicious content on December 26, 2023, prompting her to seek legal counsel from attorney Robnny Gutiérrez. Together, they filed a formal complaint with the prosecution in Bolívar, urging judicial authorities to take swift and decisive action to protect Ostos' professional reputation.
The online harassment did not stop. On January 7, 2024, following Ostos' public update on the legal proceedings, she faced yet another wave of abusive messages, this time from a different anonymous Instagram account.
Women journalists are particularly vulnerable to vicious online smear campaigns targeting them because of their work, often containing gendered and sexist language. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom commends Pableysa Ostos for taking legal action against those attempting to defame and undermine her credibility. We urge the prosecutor to accept her complaint, open an investigation, and prosecute those responsible.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.