Pressured by the Comments? Chinese Journalists in the Face of Online Violence

Abstract

In the increasingly digital context of China’s public sphere, journalists frequently encounter online violence that threatens their professional autonomy, emotional wellbeing, and freedom of expression. Drawing on 20 semi-structured interviews with journalists representing a cross section of the Chinese media landscape, this study identifies four major types of online violence experienced by Chinese journalists: violence in response to alleged unprofessional behaviours, violence based on moral coercion, violence motivated by so-called “nationalism”, and gendered violence. Cultural norms, nationalist ideologies, and patriarchy emerge as key factors shaping and underpinning online violence. With regard to journalists’ coping strategies, these are found to include individualised and emotionally taxing approaches, such as silence, avoidance and contempt, while institutional support is either limited in its responsiveness or sometimes unavailable. This study provides an enhanced understanding of the role of online violence in shaping journalistic practice and coping strategies in a highly interactive and emotional digital media environment. The findings indicate that online violence driven by wider structural and cultural forces, is becoming an increasingly common informal control mechanism, undermining journalistic authority and autonomy and therefore the stability and sustainability of journalism itself.