From 31 March to 1 April 2025, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will be hosting a workshop entitled “Online Harassment and Protection of Journalists” in Belgrade, Serbia, as part of the Stand up for Journalism (SUJ) project in partnership with the Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (IJAS). The workshop will focus on the growing issue of digital threats against journalists and explore strategies to strengthen their protection. It will feature insightful speakers from across Europe, including journalists, media professionals, and safety experts.
This workshop is the third in a series of five thematic capacity-building workshops. The first workshop was held in Istanbul in September 2024, addressing collective bargaining strategies for freelancers. The second took place in Vichy, France, in January 2025, focusing on different challenges related to collective bargaining for freelancers. The remaining workshops will explore well-being and burnout in journalism and organisation in the age of AI.
Agenda
09:00: Welcome and registration
09:00 – 09:15: Opening remarks
Yuk Lan Wong, Head of Projects at EFJ
Tamara Filipovic, General Secretary of NUNS
09:15 – 09:45: Warm-up Activity
Interactive activity to explore your initial reactions and emotions on online threats. Through a series of thought-provoking prompts, you’ll reflect on how you might feel and respond in such situations.
Yuk Lan Wong, Head of Project at EFJ
09:45 – 10:30 Testimony
Online threats don’t stay online… Journalist Dinko Gruhonjic faced hundreds of death threats, fueled by a manipulated video — until the danger followed him home. Ana Lalić Hegediš endured similar abuse. Their stories reveal how digital harassment can spiral into real-world violence. Are we doing enough to protect journalists?
Dinko Gruhonjic, university professor and professional journalist
Moderator: Drazen Djuraskovic, Journalist and media expert, SMCG and SafeJournalists Network
10:30 – 10:50: Coffee break
10:50 – 12:00: Legal and Policy Frameworks for Protecting Journalists – Local and Global Perspectives
Overview of laws, regulations, and organizational policies to protect journalists. Includes local and international frameworks.
Valentina Grippo, General Rapporteur for Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists (PACE) at the Council of Europe
Ana Toskić, Executive Director of Partners for Democratic Change Serbia
Colette Simonne Wahlqvist, Global Safety Advisor at International Media Support (IMS)
Moderator: Elodie Vialle, Adviser on media freedom and DSA policy
12:00 – 13:30: Lunch
13:30 – 14:30: Understanding Online Harassment – An Overview
This session breaks down the latest trends, real-world impact, and alarming data on the digital threats journalists face today. From targeted abuse to coordinated attacks and AI-generated fakes, we’ll explore how online harassment escalates — and what can be done to stop it.
Javier Luque Martinez, Head of Digital Media and Online Safety at IPI
Nassira El-Moaddem, freelance journalist (online)
Moderator: Ute Korinth, Journalist, resilience trainer and author, DJV
14:30 – 15:45: Focus group 1 – Interactive Workshop: Scenario Practice
Role-playing exercises to practice handling online harassment scenarios, with group feedback and expert tips.
1. Advocacy and Strategic Responses to Online Harassment Against Journalists
Trainer: Elodie Vialle, journalist and journalists’ digital rights consultant
This workshop is designed for journalists’ unions to explore effective advocacy strategies and collective solutions to combat online harassment. It follows from the online harassment survey shared with EFJ members as part of this project.The session will cover good practices in policy advocacy and institutional support mechanisms. Attendees will also engage in scenario-based exercises to refine their approach to handling cases of online abuse against journalists.
2. Strengthening Online Protection – Procedures and Tools
Trainer: Monika Kutri, Project Coordinator, Researcher and Journalists Safety Professional at HND
This immersive, interactive session leverages virtual reality (VR) to provide participants with a firsthand experience of threats. By combining VR technology with collaborative discussion, participants will gain practical skills and deeper insights into safeguarding their online presence effectively.
15:45 – 16:15: Coffee break
16:15 – 17:30: Focus group 2 – Interactive Workshop: Scenario Practice
Role-playing exercises to practice handling online harassment scenarios, with group feedback and expert tips.
1. Advocacy and Strategic Responses to Online Harassment Against Journalists
Trainer: Elodie Vialle, journalist and journalists’ digital rights consultant
2. Strengthening Online Protection – Procedures and Tools
Trainer: Monika Kutri, Project Coordinator, Researcher and Journalists Safety Professional at HND
19:00: Group dinner at Teatroteka
Address: Club Restoran Teatroteka, 19 gospodar Jevremova Street, Belgrade
08:45 – 09:00: Registrations and coffee
09:00 – 10:30: Building a Culture of Safety – Strengthening Support Networks for Journalists
This session explores how journalists’ unions and associations, media companies, journalists, authorities, and online platforms can work together to build a culture of safety. We’ll discuss best practices for strengthening support networks, improving responses to threats, and ensuring newsrooms and journalists have the resources and protection they need — both online and offline.
Javier Luque Martinez, Head of Digital Media and Online Safety at IPI
10:30 – 11:00: Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00: Working groups – National and European action plans to build a Support Network for journalists
- Newsroom and peer-to-peer support (e.g. mental health)
- Javier Luque Martinez, Head of Digital Media and Online Safety at IPI
- Advocacy and lobbying (EU and national levels)
- Colette Simonne Wahlqvist, Global Safety Advisor at International Media Support (IMS)
12:00 – 13:00: Concluding remarks
We will look back at what was discussed during this meeting and highlight any concrete follow-up steps that unions can take.
13:00: Lunch
Source: EFJ
