Quotes of the Week: Politicians and social media platforms must act to stop abuse of journalists to English libel law used to threaten reporters outside UK investigating financial crime and corruption

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, after a survey of NUJ members showed many had suffered online abuse, threats and physical attacks: "It is wholly unacceptable and outrageous that NUJ members are being routinely abused, harassed and intimidated in the course of doing their job. Such abuse and harassment goes beyond the awful personal impact - it also risks silencing journalists and censoring debates. Those under attack - disproportionately women and black and minority ethnic journalists - admit to thinking twice about what they say or publish, with self-censorship a natural self-protective reflex. It is clear that those in public office, especially our elected politicians, have a leadership role in improving parlous levels of public discourse. We need an end to the dismissal of journalism as fake news... And it’s time social media platforms did more to deter and stop abuse."

Key findings of the survey include:

• 51% of respondents said they had experienced online abuse in the last year
• 55% of respondents said the abuse had affected their wellbeing and mental health
• 48% said the abuse had made them fearful or anxious
• 15% of respondents said harassment had made them consider leaving the industry

The Times [£] in a leader on the Martin Bashir interview with Princess Diana and the row over fake documents said to have helped secure it: "Tim Davie, the new director-general, has apologised to Lord Spencer and the BBC says it will investigate any 'substantive new information'. It should go further and hold a formal inquiry. It is already clear that Bashir’s behaviour was a journalistic disgrace. The question must be whether others at the BBC knew this already and covered it up. Mr Davie should be keen to find the truth. If he does not, others will."

Younes Mjahed, president of the International Federation of Journalists, in a statement to mark the UN's International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November: “We cannot remain silent when the level of impunity across the world is so shockingly high and the masterminds maintain their power because they can escape justice. Democracy requires that the authors of crimes and intimidations be duly brought to justice and pay the price for silencing those who are fighting for the truth."

A spokesman for the Sun, quoted by The Times [£], after actor Johnny Depp lost his libel battle over claims he physically and sexually abused his ex-wife Amber Heard: “The Sun has stood up and campaigned for the victims of domestic abuse for over twenty years. Domestic abuse victims must never be silenced and we thank the judge for his careful consideration and thank Amber Heard for her courage in giving evidence to the court.”

The BBC's new social media guidance for journalists: "Expressions of opinion on social media can take many forms – from straightforward tweets, posts or updates, sharing or liking content, following particular accounts or using campaigning or political hashtags. You should consider carefully every comment before posting... Avoid ‘virtue signalling’ – retweets, likes or joining online campaigns to indicate a personal view, no matter how apparently worthy the cause."

BBC Newsdesk and Planning editor Neil Henderson on Twitter: "Virtue signalling. Well I’m proud to be sacked for any opposition I may express to racism and hate."

Christian Broughton, managing director and former editor of the Independent on Robert Fisk, who has died aged 74: “Fearless, uncompromising, determined and utterly committed to uncovering the truth and reality at all costs, Robert Fisk was the greatest journalist of his generation. The fire he lit at the Independent will burn on.”

Jeremy Corbyn on Facebook before he was suspended by the Labour Party: “One antisemite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media."

BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw in TheTimes [£]: "With the expansion of virtual hearings and remote access in response to the pandemic, you do not have to be at court to follow some proceedings. If the audio or video link is reliable you can cover cases from an office or bedroom. I expect that desktop court reporting will become a permanent feature of journalism, but without being there, reporters risk missing the vital off-the-cuff conversations with officials, lawyers and other participants that aid understanding of the legal process, build trust and prevent mistakes."

Rachel Cooke in the Observer interviewing ex-Financial Times editor Lionel Barber: "Even as I’m interviewing him, he keeps telling me how interviews should be done."

Susan Coughtrie, project director at the Foreign Policy Centre, on its survey examining pressures faced by journalists uncovering crime and corruption around the world: “Investigative journalists uncovering financial crime and corruption are being subject to a significant amount of risks and threats, which has a chilling effect on their ability to continue to bring crucial matters of public interest to light. Particularly alarming is the level and frequency, as highlighted by our survey, of legal threats being sent to journalists all over the world. The UK is the highest international source of these legal challenges – almost as high as EU countries and the US combined – which points to a clear need for further review to prevent potential vexatious misuse of the UK legal system.”

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