I’ve been a journalist for a loooong time. But the level of abuse in the past year is off the charts. Does it matter? Yes, I think it does.

My column today for the Sunday Star Times.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300776395/abuse-of-journalists-shows-how-ugly-our-civil-discourse-has-become

Abuse of journalists shows how ugly our civil discourse has become

OPINION: "The sooner you die the better!" is just one of many vile messages that landed in Paula Penfold's inbox over the past 12 months.

Stuff
@paulapenfold Not something you don’t already know (!), but similar chilling effects on scientists, science communicators, and science writers happening too. (Not entirely new on topics people feel "anti-" about, but more pervasive and brazen.)