Our conference theme is "Navigating Digital Democracy". You can find more information here psatip.uk/tip-news/tip...

Presentations on any aspect of politics and media and/or technology welcome. Travel funds are available for PGRs/ECRs coming to join us in Bournemouth

Thank you for chairing a panel Caroline :-)

Thank you for chairing the panel Chrysi :-)

Thank you Sara 😊

Then at 13.30, we've got a panel on Citizen Communication, Politics and the Media.

Finally, at 15.30 we're wrapping up with a panel on Social Media and Politics #PSA25

Today, we've got panels on Polarisation, Populism and dis/misinformation, Memes, Humour and Political Fandom (13.30), and Technology, Media and Politics (15.30) #PSA25

I’m excited too to engage with panels on environmental and climate politics @psaenvironmental.bsky.social political parties, and political communication and media @psampg.bsky.social

An important point from Emily in the Q&A - a lot of this abuse gets to challenges over who has the right to represent

#PSAMPG2025

Similar to Emily and Ros' work, Susana talks about a lack of institutional support for women journalists experiencing abuse.

Harassment has become normalised - but there is some support amongst teams of colleagues to protect each other from abusive comments

#PSAMPG2025

Some abusers 'follow' journalists to their personal social media accounts to harass them. A challenge for journalists who need to get their name out there and who should be able to claim credit for their work

#PSAMPG2025

Women journalists sometimes pivot to avoid topics which attract online abuse - however, any topic *can* attract abuse. Journalists are thinking about the impact of abusive commenters on other readers, not only on themselves.

Bylines with photos often lead to abuse based on image

#PSAMPG2025

This research is part of a broader project on the experiences and expectations of women early career journalists, using in-depth interviews.

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It's not only the level of abuse that is different, but types and effects. Women more subjected to threats of sexual violence. Effects can include self-censorship, and moving to different topics. An 'emotional load'

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For early career journalists, social media is seen as essential for launching a career and promoting themselves and their work. Existing literature shows that women journalists are disproportionately targeted for abuse and harassment.

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Lastly, we have Susana Sampaio-Dias, joining us to talk about how early career women journalists experience online abuse and harassment.

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There were also some unexpected benefits from using social media as a politician. A sense of 'it's awful, but I still need to be here'. Some had formed strong support networks online that they would not otherwise have, including with other women politicians and activists.

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Participants had not stopped using social media, but they were using it differently. A consensus that political parties need to do more to prepare and support their elected representatives - especially at the local level

#PSAMPG2025