Amy Binns | University of Central Lancashire (original) (raw)
Papers by Amy Binns
Journalism Education, Nov 2023
Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more di... more Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more difficult due to changing guidance to court officials, and limited regulatory guidance to media organisations. This has resulted in confusing articles and abuse of journalists. This research examined 138 media reports of 39 UK court cases concerning defendants who claimed to be transgender. The results showed great variation in journalistic practice regarding pro nouns, use of names and terminology. Journalists were asked for the reasoning behind editorial decisions. Stakeholders were also invited to give their opinions on current and ideal reporting practice. Current legal and regulatory guidelines in the UK were reviewed. Guidance is given to enable journalists to report these cases safely and accurately and to assist those teaching student journalists.
![Research paper thumbnail of What makes a target: politicians and abuse on social media [Note: The chapter “What makes a target: politicians and abuse on social media” from the edited collection “Anti Social Media?” was reprinted in the British Journalism Review under the title “And they thought papers were rude.”]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/96201802/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Abramis eBooks, Oct 8, 2018
Journalism Practice, Jan 19, 2012
‘Trolling’ and other negative behaviour on magazine websites is widespread, ranging from subtly p... more ‘Trolling’ and other negative behaviour on magazine websites is widespread, ranging from subtly provocative behaviour to outright abuse. Publishers have sought to develop lively online communities, with high levels of user generated content. Methods of building sites have developed quickly, but methods of managing them have lagged behind. Some publishers have then felt overwhelmed by the size and behaviour of the communities they have created.This paper considers the reasons behind trolling and the tools digital editors have developed to manage their communities, taking up the role of Zygmunt Bauman’s gardeners in what they sometimes refer to as “walled gardens” within the internet’s wild domains. Interviews were conducted with online editors at the front line of site management at Bauer, Giraffe, IPC, Natmags, RBI and the Times. This article shows how publishers are designing sites that encourage constructive posting, and taking a more active part in site management. Web 2.0 and the spread of broadband, which have made management of fast-growing communities difficult, may themselves bring positive change. As uploading material becomes technically easier, “ordinary” citizens can outnumber those who, lacking social skills or with little regard for social norms, originally made the internet their natural habitat.
UCL Press eBooks, Aug 17, 2020
For women, the interwar years have often been seen as a period of conservative reaction. Women wh... more For women, the interwar years have often been seen as a period of conservative reaction. Women who had gone out to work during the war largely returned to the home: doing men's jobs was now widely seen as selfish, not patriotic. New civic organisations such as the Women's Institute (WI) upheld traditional gender roles and lauded 'responsibility', in contrast to the law-breaking militancy of the prewar fight for the vote. The political dominance of the Conservative Party was partly due to its success in appealing to the newly enfranchised women, not least by means of innovative propaganda specifically addressing these voters. 1 Nor did the winning of the vote for women of property over 30 in 1918 herald the opening of many further doors. Women continued to face resistance at every stage in their advance: into political parties, trade unions and Parliament. Prior to 1945, there were never more than 15 women MPs in the House of Commons at any one time. 2 But to paint these years as wholly reactionary is simplistic. Women were growing into their new roles as enfranchised citizens. They were searching for new identities without the comradeship of the fight for the vote; and they were reconciling their new status and opportunities with traditional roles as wives and mothers. Political energy still existed, but splintered into new campaigns, such as those for better housing and freely available contraception. The generation of 'war spinsters' fought for a better economic deal while finding creative ways of living without men. 3
New Perspectives on Cybercrime, 2017
The early days of the Internet promised much. Posting online seemed to offer a freedom from expec... more The early days of the Internet promised much. Posting online seemed to offer a freedom from expectation and prejudice. In the words of the New Yorker cartoon, on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog. We believed nobody knew your gender, age or race either. Your beauty or lack of it was of no account, your mind was disembodied, pure spirit, freed from the hidebound judgements of society. You could remove the mask you wear every day, revealing your true nature online to other disembodied spirits in a way that you never could to your family or colleagues. Perhaps you would find a new community to live in online, a community that thinks and feels as you do. Or instead of revealing yourself, you could create a someone new. You could play with your identity more easily than playing with your hair colour, you could have a whole wardrobe of new selves if you want them. The Internet offered freedom from the space constraints and word counts of newspapers, as well as from their gatekeepers, political stances and editorial guidelines. Here, anyone could be their own publisher for free, and could be heard all over the world without having their opinions edited down to fit a hole at the bottom of a column or a
Gina Miller shot to fame after taking the British government to court for attempting to force thr... more Gina Miller shot to fame after taking the British government to court for attempting to force through Article 50, the mechanism, which started the Brexit process. It was a case that, like the 2016 Referendum itself, polarised Britain. While Leavers were outraged that their vote to exit the EU was not the final word, Remainers watched with bated breath in hope that their disaster could turn to triumph. In the middle was the previously unknown financier Gina Miller. Articulate, photogenic and unafraid to comment on a controversial issue, she might have been made for the media. Widespread coverage led to her becoming a hate figure online, with two men arrested for making threats to kill her. This study analyses 18,036 tweets, which include the username @thatginamiller, from October 1, 2016 to February 27, 2017, from just before the opening of her High Court case to beyond the Supreme Court ruling on January 26 .
Until now, little was known of John Wyndham. Despite his popularity, his obsessive need for priva... more Until now, little was known of John Wyndham. Despite his popularity, his obsessive need for privacy led to him being known as "the invisible man of science fiction". He redefined the genre with dystopian classics The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos. In Hidden Wyndham, Amy Binns reveals the woman who was the inspiration for his strong-minded heroines. Their secret love affair sustained this gentle and desperately shy man through failure, war, and, ultimately, success. Hidden Wyndham shows how Wyndham's own disturbing war experiences - witnessing the destruction of London in the Blitz then as part of the invading British army in France and Germany - inspired and underlay his dystopian masterpieces. It provides an insight into the lives of men and women who refused to live by the oppressive rules of society in the mid-20th century. Many extracts from his letters are included, along with his own photographs. "Put your hand on your heart sometimes, my lovel...
Journalism Practice, 2020
This research project has four strands: quantifying reporting of inquests; quantifying publicly a... more This research project has four strands: quantifying reporting of inquests; quantifying publicly available information from coroners' offices; investigating reasons for lack of coverage; and establishing solutions for making accounts and verdicts of inquests more accessible in a changed media landscape. Results show an overall reporting rate of only 11 per cent. Coverage varies wildly, with some "news deserts" where inquests are rarely reported. Deaths of younger people are more likely to be reported, as are male deaths. Information provided by coroners' offices also varies wildly despite national guidelines updated three years' ago recommending greater transparency. This report investigates the reasons for a lack of public scrutiny of coroners' courts by local media. Deaths may go unreported due to: the collapse of local newspapers and reduced staff in surviving organisations; the centralisation of police and newspaper offices, leading to fewer direct contacts between police and journalists; and a general cultural shift of passing media inquiries to a "communications team" which means news is filtered to give a more positive sense of police success. Recommendations: better implementation of existing guidelines: routine release of information regarding all deaths at which emergency services attend; and closer relationships with coroners' officers at inquest opening stage.
This project, designed to track hostility to MPs, began in December 2016 and was partly inspired ... more This project, designed to track hostility to MPs, began in December 2016 and was partly inspired by the death of MP Jo Cox. This report, based on early results, was submitted to the Committee for Standards in Public Life as evidence for a review ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May into Intimidation of MPs following the June 2017 general election. We captured tweets sent as @messages to British MPs from December 2016. The figures in this report relate to tweets sent between 18 March and 11 June. These @messages were then categorised as positive, neutral, disagree or hostile using bespoke machine learning software, trained using this specific dataset, to measure the emotion behind the messages people send to politicians. This is a more reliable method than simply searching for keywords, such as profanities. We defined hostility as insults aimed at the person rather than the action or policy.
Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies, 2017
CLoK Central Lancashire online Knowledge www.clok.uclan.ac.uk Fair game? Journalists' experiences... more CLoK Central Lancashire online Knowledge www.clok.uclan.ac.uk Fair game? Journalists' experiences of online abuse Online abuse of journalists through comments below articles or on Twitter is now ubiquitous. The tough-minded industry culture means it has generally been dismissed as unimportant, however high-profile cases of rape and bomb threats have given it greater significance. This research, based on a survey of 267 journalists and four detailed interviews, sought to establish what effect it had on them and their behaviour. Results showed women were more likely than men to report often receiving insults or threats, and had stronger emotional reactions to abuse. News reporters were more likely to report abuse than other sectors of the industry, and were more likely to report problems with online gangs. Many described their powerlessness when targeted by organised gangs. Some respondents described serious problems offline and online, including leaving jobs and self-censoring due to fear of abuse.
British Journalism Review, 2018
Women's History Review, 2017
The selection and promotion of powerful role models was a major source of inspiration during the ... more The selection and promotion of powerful role models was a major source of inspiration during the suffrage movement, with figures such as Joan of Arc invoked as justifying women's rights. This research shows the tradition continued post-1914, but with a different focus. Well over a hundred amateur pageants of noble women were staged with a changing pantheon reflecting women's new roles and aspirations. These events were staged by both religious and secular groups throughout Britain, but were most common in the small industrial towns of the Pennines, the South West and North East where Nonconformity was strong. The pageants varied from a couple of dozen performers to a thousand, with newspapers frequently praising their elaborate costumes and historical accuracy. Though certain formats and characters appeared regularly, narrative choices often reflected the organisers' tastes, sometimes introducing local heroines or reclaiming the Bible as a source of inspiration for powerful women. Bio: Author Amy Binns is a senior lecturer in the journalism department of the University of Central Lancashire. Her publications include journal articles: Don't Feed the Trolls! Managing troublemakers in magazines' online communities, Journalism Practice 6 (4), 547-562; Twitter city and Facebook village: Teenage girls' personas and experiences influenced by choice architecture in social networking sites,
New question and answer websites Ask.fm and Formspring have brought highly specific and personal ... more New question and answer websites Ask.fm and Formspring have brought highly specific and personal abuse to a new level amongst young people by providing easy anonymity to users within a circle of offline friendship groups culled from Facebook. Relatively unknown due to their unattractiveness to adults, these sites are growing rapidly and have already been associated with at least eight suicides amongst teenagers. Media educators at school level encouraging self-awareness of social media use need to be aware of this new trend. At higher levels, these sites provide a fascinating current case-study of online disinhibition, and fit into ethical and legal debates on the responsibilities of platform providers, and of individuals as media producers. This paper is based on an anonymous online survey of 302 13-to 16-year-olds at a British state girls' school. Results showed abuse levels were significantly higher than on Facebook or Twitter. The girls felt using the Q&A sites with their real names felt more real than when asking questions anonymously, but receiving anonymous abuse felt significantly more real than either. Opinions as to the acceptability of "sending hate" were mixed, with some users feeling victims had no right to complain if they had entered the forum.
Journal of Media Practice, 2014
Anonymity was once the norm online, but uploading personal information on social networks is now ... more Anonymity was once the norm online, but uploading personal information on social networks is now ubiquitous amongst teenagers, leading to new concerns about abandonment of privacy and obsessive self-grooming of online identities. However, researchers have not examined whether different social networks result in differing behaviour or happiness, which should be a key issue for media practitioners involved in social network design. This research examines whether different SNs affect behaviour and happiness differently by examining usage of Facebook, Twitter and Q&A sites Formspring and Ask by 342 teenage girls. Results showed they felt more confident on Twitter than Facebook, but were more likely to agree their Facebook personas were "the real me". Fewer negative experiences were reported on Twitter. Despite Ask.fm's appalling reputation, there was little statistical difference between it and Facebook across most categories. Though judgemental about 'fake' behaviour, girls reported often concealing their feelings. This article shows behaviour, influenced by site architecture, has created varying environments, through new media practices which can be characterised as "choice architecture" or "persuasive design". In turn, these differing environments continue to influence users' behaviour. Understanding these mechanisms could help site designers create safer online environments which promote rather than degrade users' mental health. Persuasive design on SNS also has implications for researchers seeking to understand behaviour on these platforms and craft future studies, as well as being an important field of future study in its own right.
Online abuse of journalists through comments below articles or on Twitter is now ubiquitous. The... more Online abuse of journalists through comments below articles or on Twitter is now ubiquitous. The tough-minded industry culture means it has generally been dismissed as unimportant, however high-profile cases of rape and bomb threats have given it greater significance. This research, based on a survey of 267 journalists and four detailed interviews, sought to establish what effect it had on them and their behaviour. Results showed women were more likely than men to report often receiving insults or threats, and had stronger emotional reactions to abuse. News reporters were more likely to report abuse than other sectors of the industry, and were more likely to report problems with online gangs. Many described their powerlessness when targeted by organised gangs. Some respondents described serious problems offline and online, including leaving jobs and self-censoring due to fear of abuse.
Journalism Education, Nov 2023
Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more di... more Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more difficult due to changing guidance to court officials, and limited regulatory guidance to media organisations. This has resulted in confusing articles and abuse of journalists. This research examined 138 media reports of 39 UK court cases concerning defendants who claimed to be transgender. The results showed great variation in journalistic practice regarding pro nouns, use of names and terminology. Journalists were asked for the reasoning behind editorial decisions. Stakeholders were also invited to give their opinions on current and ideal reporting practice. Current legal and regulatory guidelines in the UK were reviewed. Guidance is given to enable journalists to report these cases safely and accurately and to assist those teaching student journalists.
Abramis eBooks, Oct 8, 2018
Journalism Practice, Jan 19, 2012
‘Trolling’ and other negative behaviour on magazine websites is widespread, ranging from subtly p... more ‘Trolling’ and other negative behaviour on magazine websites is widespread, ranging from subtly provocative behaviour to outright abuse. Publishers have sought to develop lively online communities, with high levels of user generated content. Methods of building sites have developed quickly, but methods of managing them have lagged behind. Some publishers have then felt overwhelmed by the size and behaviour of the communities they have created.This paper considers the reasons behind trolling and the tools digital editors have developed to manage their communities, taking up the role of Zygmunt Bauman’s gardeners in what they sometimes refer to as “walled gardens” within the internet’s wild domains. Interviews were conducted with online editors at the front line of site management at Bauer, Giraffe, IPC, Natmags, RBI and the Times. This article shows how publishers are designing sites that encourage constructive posting, and taking a more active part in site management. Web 2.0 and the spread of broadband, which have made management of fast-growing communities difficult, may themselves bring positive change. As uploading material becomes technically easier, “ordinary” citizens can outnumber those who, lacking social skills or with little regard for social norms, originally made the internet their natural habitat.
UCL Press eBooks, Aug 17, 2020
For women, the interwar years have often been seen as a period of conservative reaction. Women wh... more For women, the interwar years have often been seen as a period of conservative reaction. Women who had gone out to work during the war largely returned to the home: doing men's jobs was now widely seen as selfish, not patriotic. New civic organisations such as the Women's Institute (WI) upheld traditional gender roles and lauded 'responsibility', in contrast to the law-breaking militancy of the prewar fight for the vote. The political dominance of the Conservative Party was partly due to its success in appealing to the newly enfranchised women, not least by means of innovative propaganda specifically addressing these voters. 1 Nor did the winning of the vote for women of property over 30 in 1918 herald the opening of many further doors. Women continued to face resistance at every stage in their advance: into political parties, trade unions and Parliament. Prior to 1945, there were never more than 15 women MPs in the House of Commons at any one time. 2 But to paint these years as wholly reactionary is simplistic. Women were growing into their new roles as enfranchised citizens. They were searching for new identities without the comradeship of the fight for the vote; and they were reconciling their new status and opportunities with traditional roles as wives and mothers. Political energy still existed, but splintered into new campaigns, such as those for better housing and freely available contraception. The generation of 'war spinsters' fought for a better economic deal while finding creative ways of living without men. 3
New Perspectives on Cybercrime, 2017
The early days of the Internet promised much. Posting online seemed to offer a freedom from expec... more The early days of the Internet promised much. Posting online seemed to offer a freedom from expectation and prejudice. In the words of the New Yorker cartoon, on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog. We believed nobody knew your gender, age or race either. Your beauty or lack of it was of no account, your mind was disembodied, pure spirit, freed from the hidebound judgements of society. You could remove the mask you wear every day, revealing your true nature online to other disembodied spirits in a way that you never could to your family or colleagues. Perhaps you would find a new community to live in online, a community that thinks and feels as you do. Or instead of revealing yourself, you could create a someone new. You could play with your identity more easily than playing with your hair colour, you could have a whole wardrobe of new selves if you want them. The Internet offered freedom from the space constraints and word counts of newspapers, as well as from their gatekeepers, political stances and editorial guidelines. Here, anyone could be their own publisher for free, and could be heard all over the world without having their opinions edited down to fit a hole at the bottom of a column or a
Gina Miller shot to fame after taking the British government to court for attempting to force thr... more Gina Miller shot to fame after taking the British government to court for attempting to force through Article 50, the mechanism, which started the Brexit process. It was a case that, like the 2016 Referendum itself, polarised Britain. While Leavers were outraged that their vote to exit the EU was not the final word, Remainers watched with bated breath in hope that their disaster could turn to triumph. In the middle was the previously unknown financier Gina Miller. Articulate, photogenic and unafraid to comment on a controversial issue, she might have been made for the media. Widespread coverage led to her becoming a hate figure online, with two men arrested for making threats to kill her. This study analyses 18,036 tweets, which include the username @thatginamiller, from October 1, 2016 to February 27, 2017, from just before the opening of her High Court case to beyond the Supreme Court ruling on January 26 .
Until now, little was known of John Wyndham. Despite his popularity, his obsessive need for priva... more Until now, little was known of John Wyndham. Despite his popularity, his obsessive need for privacy led to him being known as "the invisible man of science fiction". He redefined the genre with dystopian classics The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos. In Hidden Wyndham, Amy Binns reveals the woman who was the inspiration for his strong-minded heroines. Their secret love affair sustained this gentle and desperately shy man through failure, war, and, ultimately, success. Hidden Wyndham shows how Wyndham's own disturbing war experiences - witnessing the destruction of London in the Blitz then as part of the invading British army in France and Germany - inspired and underlay his dystopian masterpieces. It provides an insight into the lives of men and women who refused to live by the oppressive rules of society in the mid-20th century. Many extracts from his letters are included, along with his own photographs. "Put your hand on your heart sometimes, my lovel...
Journalism Practice, 2020
This research project has four strands: quantifying reporting of inquests; quantifying publicly a... more This research project has four strands: quantifying reporting of inquests; quantifying publicly available information from coroners' offices; investigating reasons for lack of coverage; and establishing solutions for making accounts and verdicts of inquests more accessible in a changed media landscape. Results show an overall reporting rate of only 11 per cent. Coverage varies wildly, with some "news deserts" where inquests are rarely reported. Deaths of younger people are more likely to be reported, as are male deaths. Information provided by coroners' offices also varies wildly despite national guidelines updated three years' ago recommending greater transparency. This report investigates the reasons for a lack of public scrutiny of coroners' courts by local media. Deaths may go unreported due to: the collapse of local newspapers and reduced staff in surviving organisations; the centralisation of police and newspaper offices, leading to fewer direct contacts between police and journalists; and a general cultural shift of passing media inquiries to a "communications team" which means news is filtered to give a more positive sense of police success. Recommendations: better implementation of existing guidelines: routine release of information regarding all deaths at which emergency services attend; and closer relationships with coroners' officers at inquest opening stage.
This project, designed to track hostility to MPs, began in December 2016 and was partly inspired ... more This project, designed to track hostility to MPs, began in December 2016 and was partly inspired by the death of MP Jo Cox. This report, based on early results, was submitted to the Committee for Standards in Public Life as evidence for a review ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May into Intimidation of MPs following the June 2017 general election. We captured tweets sent as @messages to British MPs from December 2016. The figures in this report relate to tweets sent between 18 March and 11 June. These @messages were then categorised as positive, neutral, disagree or hostile using bespoke machine learning software, trained using this specific dataset, to measure the emotion behind the messages people send to politicians. This is a more reliable method than simply searching for keywords, such as profanities. We defined hostility as insults aimed at the person rather than the action or policy.
Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies, 2017
CLoK Central Lancashire online Knowledge www.clok.uclan.ac.uk Fair game? Journalists' experiences... more CLoK Central Lancashire online Knowledge www.clok.uclan.ac.uk Fair game? Journalists' experiences of online abuse Online abuse of journalists through comments below articles or on Twitter is now ubiquitous. The tough-minded industry culture means it has generally been dismissed as unimportant, however high-profile cases of rape and bomb threats have given it greater significance. This research, based on a survey of 267 journalists and four detailed interviews, sought to establish what effect it had on them and their behaviour. Results showed women were more likely than men to report often receiving insults or threats, and had stronger emotional reactions to abuse. News reporters were more likely to report abuse than other sectors of the industry, and were more likely to report problems with online gangs. Many described their powerlessness when targeted by organised gangs. Some respondents described serious problems offline and online, including leaving jobs and self-censoring due to fear of abuse.
British Journalism Review, 2018
Women's History Review, 2017
The selection and promotion of powerful role models was a major source of inspiration during the ... more The selection and promotion of powerful role models was a major source of inspiration during the suffrage movement, with figures such as Joan of Arc invoked as justifying women's rights. This research shows the tradition continued post-1914, but with a different focus. Well over a hundred amateur pageants of noble women were staged with a changing pantheon reflecting women's new roles and aspirations. These events were staged by both religious and secular groups throughout Britain, but were most common in the small industrial towns of the Pennines, the South West and North East where Nonconformity was strong. The pageants varied from a couple of dozen performers to a thousand, with newspapers frequently praising their elaborate costumes and historical accuracy. Though certain formats and characters appeared regularly, narrative choices often reflected the organisers' tastes, sometimes introducing local heroines or reclaiming the Bible as a source of inspiration for powerful women. Bio: Author Amy Binns is a senior lecturer in the journalism department of the University of Central Lancashire. Her publications include journal articles: Don't Feed the Trolls! Managing troublemakers in magazines' online communities, Journalism Practice 6 (4), 547-562; Twitter city and Facebook village: Teenage girls' personas and experiences influenced by choice architecture in social networking sites,
New question and answer websites Ask.fm and Formspring have brought highly specific and personal ... more New question and answer websites Ask.fm and Formspring have brought highly specific and personal abuse to a new level amongst young people by providing easy anonymity to users within a circle of offline friendship groups culled from Facebook. Relatively unknown due to their unattractiveness to adults, these sites are growing rapidly and have already been associated with at least eight suicides amongst teenagers. Media educators at school level encouraging self-awareness of social media use need to be aware of this new trend. At higher levels, these sites provide a fascinating current case-study of online disinhibition, and fit into ethical and legal debates on the responsibilities of platform providers, and of individuals as media producers. This paper is based on an anonymous online survey of 302 13-to 16-year-olds at a British state girls' school. Results showed abuse levels were significantly higher than on Facebook or Twitter. The girls felt using the Q&A sites with their real names felt more real than when asking questions anonymously, but receiving anonymous abuse felt significantly more real than either. Opinions as to the acceptability of "sending hate" were mixed, with some users feeling victims had no right to complain if they had entered the forum.
Journal of Media Practice, 2014
Anonymity was once the norm online, but uploading personal information on social networks is now ... more Anonymity was once the norm online, but uploading personal information on social networks is now ubiquitous amongst teenagers, leading to new concerns about abandonment of privacy and obsessive self-grooming of online identities. However, researchers have not examined whether different social networks result in differing behaviour or happiness, which should be a key issue for media practitioners involved in social network design. This research examines whether different SNs affect behaviour and happiness differently by examining usage of Facebook, Twitter and Q&A sites Formspring and Ask by 342 teenage girls. Results showed they felt more confident on Twitter than Facebook, but were more likely to agree their Facebook personas were "the real me". Fewer negative experiences were reported on Twitter. Despite Ask.fm's appalling reputation, there was little statistical difference between it and Facebook across most categories. Though judgemental about 'fake' behaviour, girls reported often concealing their feelings. This article shows behaviour, influenced by site architecture, has created varying environments, through new media practices which can be characterised as "choice architecture" or "persuasive design". In turn, these differing environments continue to influence users' behaviour. Understanding these mechanisms could help site designers create safer online environments which promote rather than degrade users' mental health. Persuasive design on SNS also has implications for researchers seeking to understand behaviour on these platforms and craft future studies, as well as being an important field of future study in its own right.
Online abuse of journalists through comments below articles or on Twitter is now ubiquitous. The... more Online abuse of journalists through comments below articles or on Twitter is now ubiquitous. The tough-minded industry culture means it has generally been dismissed as unimportant, however high-profile cases of rape and bomb threats have given it greater significance. This research, based on a survey of 267 journalists and four detailed interviews, sought to establish what effect it had on them and their behaviour. Results showed women were more likely than men to report often receiving insults or threats, and had stronger emotional reactions to abuse. News reporters were more likely to report abuse than other sectors of the industry, and were more likely to report problems with online gangs. Many described their powerlessness when targeted by organised gangs. Some respondents described serious problems offline and online, including leaving jobs and self-censoring due to fear of abuse.
Gina Miller shot to fame after taking the British government to court for attempting to force thr... more Gina Miller shot to fame after taking the British government to court for attempting to force through Article 50, the mechanism, which started the Brexit process. It was a case that, like the 2016 Referendum itself, polarised Britain. While Leavers were outraged that their vote to exit the EU was not the final word, Remainers watched with bated breath in hope that their disaster could turn to triumph.
In the middle was the previously unknown financier Gina Miller. Articulate, photogenic and unafraid to comment on a controversial issue, she might have been made for the media. Widespread coverage led to her becoming a hate figure online, with two men arrested for making threats to kill her.
This study analyses 180,360 tweets, which include the username @thatginamiller, from October 1, 2016 to February 27, 2017, from just before the opening of her High Court case to beyond the Supreme Court ruling on January 26 .
Politicians are known to be targets for some of the worst abuse on social media, including rape a... more Politicians are known to be targets for some of the worst abuse on social media, including rape and death threats. But exactly how bad is it? Who gets it worst? And where is this onslaught of negativity taking us?
This article is based on the analysis of all tweets sent as single @messages to British MPs between December 2016 and the general election in June 2017. This dataset of roughly 80,000 tweets was categorised using sentiment analysis software into hostile, disagree and other.
The results show little difference in levels of hostility by gender, race or political party. The major drivers of long-term hostility were
high profile jobs and criticising Corbyn. Incautious public appearances or tweets resulted in major spikes. Scottish politics also proved more aggressive.
The effect of publicity due to high profile jobs on hostility may partly explain the relatively flat relationship between hostility and gender/race, as front bench jobs are more likely to be filled by white men.
Why did this "wild and unchristian place" become a heartland for the dissenters? What made chapel... more Why did this "wild and unchristian place" become a heartland for the dissenters? What made chapel life so all-absorbing? And how did these matter-of-fact rebels change our world?
Refusing to pray the way the Government told them to was only the start of the non-conformist revolution.
Soon their chapels flowered across the landscape as they formed trade unions, built schools for all and campaigned for the vote.
And through it all was an energy and enthusiasm that blossomed in plays and pantomimes, lantern lectures and bazaars, firebrand pulpit performances and heartfelt prayer meetings.
Amy Binns has dug through neglected cupboards and blown the dust off scrapbooks to reveal a forgotten part of our history. And whe you have fallen for the dissenters, maps will let you join the treasure hunt to find the remains of their legacy to us, and look at the buildings you pass every day in a whole new light.
Journalism Education, 2023
Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more di... more Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more difficult due to changing guidance to court officials, and a lack of regulatory guidance to media organisations. This has resulted in confusing articles and abuse of journalists. This research examined 138 media reports of 39 UK court cases concerning defendants who claimed to be transgender. The results showed great variation in journalistic practice regarding pronouns, use of names and terminology. Journalists were asked for the reasoning behind editorial decisions. Stakeholders were also invited to give their opinions on current and ideal reporting practice. Current legal and regulatory guidelines in the UK were reviewed. Guidance is given to enable journalists to report these cases safely and accurately.
Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more di... more Reporting of court cases with trans-identified defendants has become both more common and more difficult due to changing guidance to court officials, and a lack of regulatory guidance to media organisations. This has resulted in confusing articles and abuse of journalists. This research examined 138 media reports of 39 UK court cases concerning defendants who claimed to be transgender. The results showed great variation in journalistic practice regarding pronouns, use of names and terminology. Journalists were asked for the reasoning behind editorial decisions. Stakeholders were also invited to give their opinions on current and ideal reporting practice. Current legal and regulatory guidelines in the UK were reviewed. Guidance is given to enable journalists to report these cases safely and accurately.