Online Abuse and the Challenges Faced by Sports Journalists in the UK and Ireland

Sports journalists in the UK and Ireland are encountering an alarming rise in online abuse, which is profoundly affecting their work and well-being. Social media, while enabling direct interaction with audiences, has also exposed journalists to a constant threat of harassment, creating a new reality for the profession. The ubiquity of online abuse has significant implications, not only for journalists’ mental health, but also for the quality and integrity of sports journalism itself. Online abuse frequently leads to self-censorship and emotional exhaustion, with formal institutional support and training for managing online abuse largely absent. While this leaves journalists with the task of navigating these difficulties on their own, it also highlights the need for further research on the nature of online abuse in sports, as well as stronger institutional measures to support journalists facing online harassment.