“These attacks are attempts to normalize the degradation of the press, diminishing the role of journalists and press freedom as the fourth estate of U.S. democracy. They also serve as a diversion to prevent further questioning and shut down scrutiny.”
— Elisa Lees Muñoz, IWMF Executive Director
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is alarmed by United States President Donald Trump’s pattern of targeting and harassing women journalists. Within the past three weeks, at least five incidents have occurred where the president has used epithets and demeaning language, or made sexist remarks, toward women journalists. This includes CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Bloomberg’s Catherine Lucy, CBS’ Nancy Cordes, and ABC’s Rachel Scott and Mary Bruce.
These attacks are attempts to normalize the degradation of the press, diminishing the role of journalists and press freedom as the fourth estate of U.S. democracy. They also serve as a diversion to prevent further questioning and shut down scrutiny on topics of national importance or those requiring accountability.
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Beyond its chilling effects on press freedom, this pervasive misogyny has significant safety implications for women working in news. After an attack, journalists often experience a spike in online threats, including doxxing, that puts their security at risk. This online violence is designed to stop journalists from doing their work and can lead to short and long-term loss of livelihood. According to recent studies, more than 40% of women journalists, activists, and human rights defenders also experienced offline attacks directly linked to online abuse.
These attacks affect us all: Journalists, newsrooms, press freedom organizations, politicians, and news consumers must stay engaged and stand with women journalists. We encourage news organizations to address these incidents systematically through established policies that give their journalists support at the highest levels to act when they and their peers are directly targeted. We also urge media consumers, policymakers, and press advocates to join the IWMF as we continue to confront the consequences of this behavior.
