Craig Newmark Philanthropies Commits Additional $250K to Fighting Online Violence
Coalition Against Online Violence to expand support for women journalists
[WASHINGTON, DC – November 8, 2021] – The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) today received $250,000 in new funding from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support the Coalition Against Online Violence (CAOV). Thanks to this generous funding, the CAOV will expand its advocacy for women journalists experiencing online attacks and continue to change attitudes toward online violence worldwide.
Women journalists face constant harassment, threats, and attacks online – a recent study by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and UNESCO found that 73% of women journalists surveyed had experienced online violence. Founded in 2020 by the IWMF, the CAOV addresses this problem with expertise, recommendations, and resources from its 45 member organizations, which focus on press freedom, human rights, technology, and the media at-large.
“Craig Newmark has been an unwavering advocate for women journalists facing online violence,” said Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director of the IWMF. “Thanks to his continuing support, we can maximize the impact of the Coalition Against Online Violence, putting perpetrators on notice that they can no longer abuse journalists online with impunity.”
The additional funding from Craig Newmark Philanthropies will enable the CAOV to:
- Engage in advocacy urging policies from news organizations, states, and social media companies to deter online abuse;
- Increase individual support for women journalists through proactive monitoring, public support campaigns and one-on-one digital security assistance; and,
- Develop new resources from member organizations tailored specifically to journalists from underrepresented communities, helping them to stay safer online.
“Online violence against journalists poses a direct threat to press freedom and democracy at large,” Craig Newmark said. “The onus is on each of us to support women journalists when they are attacked. I am proud to increase my support for the Coalition Against Online Violence as it works to protect women journalists and demand accountability for these heinous attacks.”
This new grant dedicated to ending online violence builds upon $350,000 in prior funding from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which included the creation of the Coalition Against Online Violence, as well as the Online Violence Response Hub (a project of the IWMF and ICFJ under the umbrella of the CAOV).
To learn more about the Coalition Against Online Violence and learn how you, your newsroom, company, or organization can get involved, visit onlineviolenceresponsehub.org/.
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About the International Women’s Media Foundation
Founded in 1990, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, reporting opportunities and funding avenues offered specifically for female journalists. We are making more women’s bylines possible and work tirelessly to ensure a greater diversity of voices represented in the news industry worldwide. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, and Instagram on @TheIWMF.
About Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer, philanthropist, and leading advocate. Most commonly known for founding the online classified ads service craigslist, Newmark works to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement. In 2016, he founded Craig Newmark Philanthropies to advance people and grassroots organizations that are “getting stuff done” in areas that include trustworthy journalism & the information ecosystem, food insecurity, voter protection, women in technology, and support for veterans & military families. At its core, all of Newmark’s philanthropic work helps to strengthen American democracy by supporting the values that the country aspires to – fairness, opportunity, and respect. For more information, please visit: CraigNewmarkPhilanthropies.org. Craig can be found sharing his personal perspective on the issues of the day at @craignewmark.