United States: A deliberate smear campaign against NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny

/
0.jpg

November 4, 2020, San Francisco – NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny was targeted by a smear campaign by Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns this vicious attack against Brandy and demands Fox News to take immediate action to stop online trolling. 

Fox News’ Tucker Carlson launched a smear campaign against NBC reporter Brandy Zadrozny over her investigation into anonymous online Trump supporters. On the October 21 broadcast of Tucker Carlson Tonight, Carlson and his guest Darren Beattie, former White House speechwriter, accused the female journalist of online harassment and intimidation, equating her practices to far-right extremism. This campaign followed online threats and trolling against Brandy Zadrozny.  

Zadrozny is an investigative journalist, who has been reporting on disinformation and QAnon conspiracy theories, particularly on social media, for NBC News. The news network released a statement of support for the journalist, pointing that Carlson ‘dangerously and dishonestly’ targeted Brandy Zadrozny. NBC attested that “Brandy Zadrozny is relentlessly well-researched and sophisticated in her understanding of disinformation and conspiracy theories on the Internet and within some social media communities”. NBC further stated “Any effort to intimidate Brandy is doomed to failure. NBC News couldn’t be prouder of Brandy, and we will continue to vigorously support her work.”

The Coalition for Women in Journalism documents this incident as yet another malicious smear campaign against a female reporter in an effort to silence the press. We demand Fox News take action immediately to stop online harassments directed at Brandy Zadrozny. Many women journalists are facing similar online trolling, which can carry severe consequences. These are serious attacks, used in a way to keep women from full participation in discussions crucial to society. We are appalled by the constant online attacks on women journalists around the world and we are calling on social media platforms to ensure the safety of women journalists across their platforms.