RTDNA: Attacks on Newsrooms Up in 2024
Data from the latest Safety Report from the RTDNA and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications, indicates attacks on TV and radio newsrooms increased from 2023 to 2024. The RTDNA says, “The percentage of TV newsrooms experiencing attacks on employees increased four and a half points, but that’s a 50% increase over last year. And those attacks have spread, with markets 1 through 25, 26 through 50, and 51 through 100 all reporting over 15% experiencing attacks. Not surprisingly, the level of attacks at radio stations and on radio news people is much lower. Only 2.7% of radio news directors and general managers reported attacks on newsroom employees. That’s up from a year ago, but only by 0.5. Like last year, market size wasn’t an indicator of safety, but also like last year, major market news directors and general managers reported the most attacks (10.2%), and over five times as many non-commercial reported attacks as commercial newsrooms. There continue to be more attacks in the Northeast than elsewhere.” See more about the report here.
It’s not easy to report on the deluge of information (and misinformation on social media) that is shaping our world. Especially in cutting through polarized rhetoric to find the truth. And yet, there has never been a more critical time to arm Americans with the facts and let them make their own decisions. To fulfill this mission, our newsrooms must be able to report without fear or favor. This isn’t just a constitutionally protected right – it is fundamental to serving our communities. And it’s a right we’ve had to defend time and time again since our country’s founding. Efforts to limit the ability of broadcasters to report the facts hinders the public’s right to know and chills free speech. Americans deserve the full and fair reporting that broadcasters provide and NAB strongly defends our members’ First Amendment rights and their vital role in maintaining an informed public. Our democracy relies on journalists’ ability to report the news without the risk of government retribution. In a media environment flooded with social media misinformation and cable news politicization, this role has never been more important.”