United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) coalition, supported by FIA Foundation, looking into scale of online hate directed towards sports journalists and media; survey is open until Friday 1 November 2024…
By the SJA
A first-of-its-kind global survey to assess the extent and impact of online abuse faced by those working in sports media has been opened by a campaign group.
The United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) coalition is undertaking a research project in an attempt to combat a growing problem in the industry. The UAOA campaign was founded by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and is supported by the FIA Foundation.
Its Journalist Survey, overseen by the FIA University, will measure both the scale and nature of online abuse sports journalists face, while assessing the effectiveness of existing safeguards in place by media organisations.
UAOA says this research will provide the evidence necessary for the campaign to drive regulatory and behavioural change that protects everyone working in sport.
Recent academic research has begun to assess the online abuse crisis facing sports journalists. Dublin City University, an academic partner of the UAOA campaign, released their paper ‘Online Abuse, Emotion Work and Sports Journalism’ in October 2024.
This found that online abuse can be so severe that it has a “corrosive” impact on the output journalists publish, in addition to the pernicious impact this abuse has on them personally. The UAOA says its Journalist Survey will build upon this early research, offering fresh insights and analysis.
The publication of this new research will accompany the UAOA campaign’s regular Barometer reports which track the online abuse faced by athletes, competitors and officials.
The first edition of the Barometer, published earlier this year, exposed the staggering levels of online abuse and harassment plaguing sports.
A total of 22 sporting federations and NGOs – including FIFA, UCI, ITF, World Athletics, World Netball, and the FIA – participated in the research, revealing that:
- 75% of respondents reported athletes and competitors regularly face threats of harm against themselves or their families
- 90% of federations warned that such abuse is likely to drive athletes out of the sport entirely
- 66% of federations believe that social media platforms must do more to combat the growing wave of online abuse
Ben Sulayem commented: “The United Against Online Abuse coalition is rapidly becoming the leading voice in the fight against online abuse and hate speech in sport.
“The severity of this issue cannot be overstated – online abuse not only impacts the mental health of athletes, officials, and journalists but it also threatens the very foundation of sport as a force for good.
“Journalists and media professionals, who cover our sports for millions of fans across the world, should not have to endure the unacceptable online abuse and hate speech directed at them.
“I encourage all sports journalists to take part in this vital research as their voices are essential to uncovering the full scale and impact of this abuse and drive forward practical solutions to combat it.”
Erin Bourke, UAOA Project Lead, said: “Our first Barometer report set a new benchmark in how online abuse in sport is measured, and it’s crucial we build on this momentum with the launch of our Journalist Survey.
“As valued members of the sporting family, I strongly urge those working in the journalism and media sector to complete this survey; their contribution is essential to ensure the solutions the UAOA coalition develop are grounded in evidence and real-world experiences.”
The Journalist Survey is open until Friday 1 November 2024. For more information and contact details, click here.
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