NABJ Condemns Attacks on Haitian Journalists and Purposeful Spread of Disinformation
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) condemns recent attacks on Haitian journalists representing the Haitian Times, a 25-year-old online publication.
After disinformation quickly began to spread about Haitian immigrants “eating pets” of fellow Springfield, Ohio residents, the staff at the Haitian Times worked tirelessly to disprove such falsehoods, which various news outlets and officials have also done. Now, they face harassment and threats as a result of their efforts to uphold the journalistic principles of truth and accuracy.
For instance, we recently learned that one of the publication’s editors was “doxxed” and then “swatted” after false crimes were reported at her home. This is believed to be a retaliation for the publication’s efforts to combat the unsubstantiated “pet eating” comments.
The spread of such disinformation and the subsequent attacks reflect a willful, malicious, and reckless disregard for human life.
We call on not only local authorities but also political parties and social media platforms to take action against the intentional spread of disinformation that is leading to these senseless attacks.
We call on news leaders to protect their journalists and provide training, just as the Haitian Times did in partnering with the Committee to Protect Journalists.
We salute our members and colleagues for their courage to combat lies, seek the truth, and report it no matter the threats against them.
This news cycle of inflammatory claims and attacks speaks to the important role journalism plays in keeping our communities informed. We must be vigilant in our fact-checking and reporting efforts, as citizens are depending on us.
We encourage journalists and journalism organizations to take advantage of these safety resources: