The level of abuse being directed at female journalists has reached a “crisis point,” according to researchers behind a global report.

Academics who conducted the three-year international study covering 15 countries urged policymakers to take action after it found the vast majority of journalists who took part had suffered from online abuse and threats.

Online abuse of women journalists is “one of the most serious contemporary threats to press freedom internationally”, according to the study’s authors, who found a “vicious and self-perpetuating cycle” in which digital harassment and threats spawn real-world, offline attacks and abuse.

Online violence against women journalists is “one of the most serious contemporary threats to press freedom internationally,’’ according to the study.

The study found a vicious and self-perpetuating cycle in which digital harassment and threats spawn real-world, offline attacks and abuse.

The authors of ‘The Chilling’ are calling for governments, the news industry and the giant tech corporations to do more to tackle what they say is “a crisis of online violence towards women journalists.’’

Kalina Bontcheva, a senior researcher in the UK arm of the study, said, “Our report has found that we are now at a crisis point in the level of violence being directed towards women journalists. The vast majority who took part in the study had suffered from online violence, so UK policymakers need to take urgent action now in order to protect the lives of those who are doing such an important job in society.”

The report, which is based on research by the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) and the University of Sheffield, said, “Online violence against women journalists is one of the most serious contemporary threats to press freedom internationally.’’

The authors said the study drew on the experiences of nearly 1,100 journalists in 15 countries.

It also examined 2.5 million social media posts directed at Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, from the Philippines, and award-winning British journalist Carole Cadwalladr.

(dpa/NAN)