Online portal established for documenting hate speech directed at Latvian journalists
The Latvian Journalists' Association (LZŽA) has announced an initiative to identify and mitigate threats against media professionals in Latvia, aiming to create an evidence base on cases of harassment of journalists as no such data has been collected before in the country.
This initiative comes at a time when the safety situation for journalists globally has worsened over the last three years, with 55 journalists killed worldwide in 2021, 63 in 2022, and 55 in 2023, according to Reporters Without Borders. In Latvia, there have been several high-profile cases of journalists being targeted online and in real life in recent years, but no official data has been collected.
The LZŽA's initiative aims to prevent excuses that such a problem does not exist. A special "Alert Button" has been set up on the LJA website for reporting incidents of violence, hate speech, or harassment against journalists. Reports can be submitted anonymously, and journalists and other people can report incidents using the "Alert Button".
The compilation of reports will provide a factual basis for the public, policymakers, law enforcement, and international organizations. This data will help in understanding the extent of the problem and in taking effective measures to improve the protection of journalists in Latvia.
The current state of journalist safety in Latvia is characterized by proactive governmental and institutional efforts to enhance protection. The Latvian government, notably the Ministry of Culture, has developed a specific safety plan for journalists and media professionals for 2025-2027. This plan includes measures such as promoting accountability for online attacks on journalists, organizing law enforcement training on journalist protection, and raising public awareness about freedom of expression.
The Latvian Journalists’ Association is part of these coordinated efforts to address harassment and safety issues faced by media professionals. Through the multidisciplinary working groups and policy guidelines from 2024-2027, the association contributes to shaping and supporting practical safety measures. These include combating harassment, especially online attacks, and ensuring accountability mechanisms are in place.
The focus is also on educating law enforcement and the public to foster a safer environment for journalistic work. The Latvian Ombudsman supports these efforts and emphasizes the importance of high-quality pluralistic discussion in democratic society. Additionally, there is legislative work underway to implement the EU’s Anti-SLAPP Directive, aiming to protect journalists against strategic lawsuits designed to silence them.
Broader regional context includes threats stemming from Russian propaganda and hybrid warfare tactics, affecting Russian journalists working in exile in Latvia and the wider media environment, which adds pressure to journalist safety concerns in the country. However, Latvia remains active in developing frameworks to protect press freedom and journalist safety.
In summary, journalist safety in Latvia is actively addressed through government-led safety plans, involvement of the Latvian Journalists’ Association in policy development, and legislative initiatives designed to combat harassment and attacks against media professionals. The LZŽA's initiative, with the "Alert Button" as a key tool, is a significant step towards creating a safer environment for journalists in Latvia.
The LZŽA's initiative with the "Alert Button" setup aims to create a database of incidents, empowering journalists and others to report instances of violence, hate speech, or harassment on social media and in real life anonymously. This collected data will serve as evidence to highlight the severity of the issue and guide policymakers, law enforcement, and international organizations towards effective measures for improving journalist protection in Latvia.
The Latvian Government's safety plan for journalists and media professionals includes promoting accountability for online attacks, organizing law enforcement training, raising public awareness about freedom of expression, and combating harassment, particularly online, in alignment with the focus of the LZŽA and the broader goal of fostering a safer environment for journalistic work.
