Sports journalists urged to take survey about online abuse

United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) coalition, supported by FIA Foundation, looking into scale of online hate directed towards sports journalists and media; survey is open until Friday 1 November 2024…

By the SJA

A first-of-its-kind global survey to assess the extent and impact of online abuse faced by those working in sports media has been opened by a campaign group.

The United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) coalition is undertaking a research project in an attempt to combat a growing problem in the industry. The UAOA campaign was founded by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and is supported by the FIA Foundation.

Its Journalist Survey, overseen by the FIA University, will measure both the scale and nature of online abuse sports journalists face, while assessing the effectiveness of existing safeguards in place by media organisations.

UAOA says this research will provide the evidence necessary for the campaign to drive regulatory and behavioural change that protects everyone working in sport.

Recent academic research has begun to assess the online abuse crisis facing sports journalists. Dublin City University, an academic partner of the UAOA campaign, released their paper ‘Online Abuse, Emotion Work and Sports Journalism’ in October 2024.