Anastasiia Vorozhtsova Interviews Ann Cooper on New Threats for Journalists

As part of CMDS Director Marius Dragomir’s journalism class, student Anastasiia Vorozhtsova has interviewed award-winning journalist Ann Cooper for MediaPowerMonitor.

Discussing old and new threats against journalists, Ann Cooper says the verbal and physical attacks on journalists that have always existed continue. But the digital age has given rise to a new category of threats and harassment such as doxxing, digital attacks, and online harassment.

Some governments also use legal means beyond libel law to attack journalists. A former foreign correspondent in Moscow, Ann Cooper talks about Russian president Vladimir Putin’s methods to silence independent media.

Another new development is the verbal and sometimes physical abuse reporters face while doing their jobs, for example when reporting from rallies or demonstrations.