Journalists and journalism organizations in countries around the world – including in large democracies – face a rising pitch of attacks on their work. From government to grassroots actors, bad faith attacks on truthful reporting often leave journalists and journalism organizations with no choice but to respond. These responses include:
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- Coping psychologically: Journalists may respond to attacks by focusing on self-care, seeking support from management, and discussing what they are going through in formal and informal venues hosted by associations and other professional groups. Some may attempt to numb their stress through unhealthy habits. Burnout is common.
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- Compromising: Journalists and journalism organizations may respond to attacks by attempting to demonstrate objective, impartiality, and neutrality through framing and language choices that equally elevate official sources’ claims alongside sources who challenge official narratives with firsthand evidence. Often called “false equivalence” or “both sides-ism,” this approach leads to compromising on truthful reporting in favor of appearing balanced to appease attackers. Doing so does not end the attacks, however.
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- Capitulating: Journalists and journalism organizations may capitulate by ceasing to report altogether on issues that a those in power consider – or could consider – unfavorable, unflattering, or unpatriotic. Capitulation is seldom a journalism organization’s reflex in response to attacks, but growing intensity of financial, political, and social pressures have led to capitulation in the form of news outlets becoming a communication arm for a ruling party and forfeiting their independence.
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- Refuting: Journalism organizations issue statements of support and rebuttals against attacks on their work or their colleagues’ work. Refutations may include social media campaigns, open letters, petitions, or shared editorials.
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- Resisting: Journalists and journalism organizations persist in developing and publishing solidarity reporting that prioritizes the firsthand knowledge, experiences, and needs of people who know the truth of an issue placing their basic dignity at stake because they are living it. Solidarity reporting is often a serious act of resistance against powerful actors who want journalists to ignore, deny, or equivocate about people’s struggles for survival. Journalists around the world continue to leverage solidarity practices and networks for navigating and mitigating safety risks for themselves, their organizations, and their vulnerable sources.
This resource is based on the following scholarship, which also synthesizes previous studies that have closely examined each response listed above. If you would like a PDF of these works or cited works, please email anita.varma@austin.utexas.edu.
Kaliyarakath, R. & Varma, A. (2025). “Press Freedom as a Collective Right to Dignity: Journalistic Resistance Against Repression Through Solidarity Reporting.” Accepted to the 108th Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Conference. International Communication Division. San Francisco, CA.
Varma, A. (2024). Navigating the Dangers of Mainstream Visibility for Marginalized Communities Through an Ethic of Solidarity in Digital Journalism. In The Routledge Companion to Digital Journalism Studies (pp. 368-376). Routledge.
Varma, A. (2025). Solidarity reporting on marginalization: A grounded alternative to monitorial reporting’s emphasis on officials. Journalism Practice, 19(1), 186-202.