We speak to two freelance journalists about how to handle and navigate negative feedback, criticism and online abuse. 

Jess Evans, fashion journalist, lecturer and founder of the Freelance Sessions talks about how to deal with negativity whilst JR Moores discusses how a band review sparked a Twitter spat with unexpected consequences.

Please note this was recorded on March 2nd 2021.

The guests

Jessica Hope Evans @jesshopeevans

Instagram @thefreelancesessions

Website https://freelancemasterclass.wixsite.com/website

JR Moores @spinal_bap

Website https://jrmoores.contently.com/

New book Electric Wizards: A Tapestry of Heavy Music from 1968 to the Present, published by Reaktion Books, September 2021 http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/

Resources

Lily’s experience of below the line comments on Hold the Front Page

https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2014/news/weeklies-cutting-corners-in-rush-to-publish-on-web/ 

JR’s review that ended up on a T-shirt https://thequietus.com/articles/28899-idles-ultra-mono-review

Dan Lucas’s review on Drowned in Sound https://drownedinsound.com/releases/17684/reviews/4146495

Recent survey for The International Centre for Journalists documenting online attacks on women information https://www.icfj.org/news/online-attacks-women-journalists-leading-real-world-violence-new-research-shows and report https://www.icfj.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/UNESCO%20Online%20Violence%20Against%20Women%20Journalists%20-%20A%20Global%20Snapshot%20Dec9pm.pdf

Courtney Tenz presentation on online harassment at Berlin Media Convention 2019 https://courtneytenz.com/2019/06/17/for-your-viewing-pleasure-my-speech-on-online-harassment-from-the-media-convention-berlin-2019-dick-pics-death-threats/

Nadine White, HuffPost reporter attacked by Government minister after asking questions about the Covid-19 vaccination campaign https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kemi-badenoch-nadine-white-press-freedom_uk_601853ccc5b622df90f5df60

Jen Williams Manchester Evening News journalist targeted by the government on Twitter after reporting on defunding of homelessness project https://www.wired.co.uk/article/government-targeting-journalists-on-twitter

Yorkshire Post editors support journalist in the face of government attack over story https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2021/news/editor-hits-back-as-ministers-and-mps-attack-daily-over-accurate-story/

Places where you can get support in you are experiencing online abuse as a freelancer: 

https://www.nuj.org.uk/about-us.html

https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/app-for-journalist-jsafe-for-reporting-online-abuse/s2/a762437/

https://newsrooms-ontheline.ipi.media/freelance-journalist/

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service which connects you, the journalist, with PRs and organisations to secure expert comment, case studies and information for independent editorial, free of charge. ResponseSource puts you in touch with experts and PR contacts across all sectors, saving you hours of research and helping you meet your deadlines.

Response Source https://www.responsesource.com/ and their journalistic enquiry service is at https://journalistenquiries.responsesource.com/send/

PR & Journo Requests on Twitter @PRJOurnoRequest use #JournoRequest or #PRRequest