In 2014, while covering a demonstration in Managua, Nicaragua, against the construction of the Interoceanic Canal, a project aimed at uniting the Pacific and Caribbean, I encountered a sobering reality. My colleagues and I found ourselves blocked by police and paramilitaries. Thankfully, we emerged unscathed. However, this experience taught me the necessity of caution in journalism.
Today, I find myself practising less journalism, having self-censored on political issues within my homeland. I feel that my freedom of the press has been compromised, a sentiment echoed by many. Numerous female journalists have been compelled to flee Nicaragua due to the escalating threats to press freedom.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day carries the poignant theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace.” In today’s world, women in journalism are increasingly vulnerable to gender-based violence, not only while gathering information in the field but also in the digital era.
Field Violence
Female journalists stand on the frontlines of covering critical issues such as invasions, wars, genocide wars, climate damage, deportation, immigration, and many other social injustice topics. They give us access to information firsthand, even though it is a risk to their life. While reporting, they faced death threats, physical attacks, harassment, and intimidation.
For instance, the International Women Media Foundation condemned on October 22nd, 2025, the killing of Ukrainian war correspondent Olena Hramova and her TV cameraman, Yevhen Karmazin, in Kramatorsk. They were killed by a drone strike, which follows a pattern of Russian targeting journalists.
These are not coincidences or mistakes, but a deliberate strategy of the Russian Federation aimed at silencing all independent voices. IWMF
According to the data from the Committee to Protect Journalists, 6 journalists have been murdered in 2026 in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. One was a female named Amal Shamaly.
Beyond the physical dangers they face, female journalists are often subjected to misogynistic and sexist remarks from political figures, including prominent leaders. A notable example is President Trump’s disparaging comments directed at journalists like Kaitlan Collins and Catherine Lucy, which illustrate the hostile environment many women reporters navigate.
Online Violence
The rise of online gender-based violence has been exacerbated by advancements in artificial intelligence. Women in public life, such as politicians and journalists, are increasingly targeted, with attackers leveraging vulnerable information to launch attacks using AI technologies.
In April 2026, a report, Tipping Point: Online Violence Impacts, Manifestations and Redress in the AI Age, was published by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the Advocacy Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action (ACT) to End Violence Against Women Programme. This report highlights the alarming escalation of online violence aimed specifically at silencing female journalists from their ‘professional credibility and personal reputations’.
The report was drafted after interviewing 641 women human rights defenders and activists, journalists, media workers, writers, and other communicators from 119 countries. Among the findings we have:
12% of respondents experienced the non-consensual sharing of personal images (including those of a sexual or intimate nature) while six per cent had been ‘deepfaked’
24% reported being diagnosed with, or treated for, anxiety or depression linked to online violence, while 13 per cent had experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
41% said they self-censor on social media to avoid
being abused
25% had reported online violence to the police
15% per cent had taken legal action
This topic was discussed in a panel at the 27 International Journalism Festival in Perugia from the 15-18 of April, 2026. The panellists were Julie Posetti, Maria Ressa, Kaylee Williams, and Kalliopi Mingeirou.
As we observe this year’s World Press Freedom Day, it’s crucial to acknowledge and address the escalating gender-based violence that female journalists face both in the field and online. It’s vital to remember that you are not alone; support is available through journalist associations and unions. Speaking out against violence and advocating for press freedom is essential for shaping a future where journalism can thrive in peace.
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