January 12, 2021- The New York Times reporter Sarah Jeong tweeted her concerns on Saturday, sharing the thread of another journalist. She reiterated that fellow journalist Andy Ngo’s disinformation poses a threat among already precarious conditions. Sarah stated that she refrained from raising the issue earlier because of rape and death threats she had received in the past. Several other women also come forward, sharing similar unpleasant experiences fuelled by pro-Trump rhetoric. CFWIJ is appalled by the shameless targeting of women journalists. We offer our support and solidarity to all women journalists enduring such hostility.
Sharing the thread of freelance journalist Donovan Farley, Sarah Jeong called upon the Twitter administrators who follow her. She urged them to recognize the dangerous effects of the disinformation spread across their platform. Mentioning Andy Ngo directly, Sarah retweeted a thread that detailed his divisive rhetoric, which often aims to incite violence and hostility. Sarah referred to Ngo as dangerous, denouncing his encouragement of the radically-inclined.

Sarah highlighted the effects of Ngo’s actions, speaking to the many journalists that live fearful of rightist retribution. She continued to say that she did not speak out earlier, out of fear of what his supporters might do. Including that people, akin to those who stormed the Capitol, could target you in your own home.

Talia Jane, an independent conflict reporter, joined the journalists calling for Twitter’s removal of Andy Ngo.  She reiterated the concerns over Ngo’s insidious incitement of violence and the deceitful disinformation published on his page. Talia also exposed Ngo’s operation of additional accounts that steal and misconstrue journalists’ footage to promote his pervasive propaganda. 

After the Capitol insurrection, many journalists have used their platform to denounce violence and hostility. As individuals who have experienced its consequences first hand, they call for change. Several journalists have addressed Big Tech companies directly to take necessary measures to remove the accounts responsible for the dissemination of dangerous disinformation. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with the brave women journalists demanding online reform.  We urge the U.S. authorities to join their call for change and assure that journalists are able to report freely, without the fear of persecution.