The fallout from the Jordan Peterson interview | Cathy Newman on doxing and death threats

Episode Overview

• Journalist Cathy Newman reflects on the intense online abuse and death threats she received following her viral interview with Jordan Peterson.
• The conversation explores the importance of public debate and engaging with people who hold completely different perspectives.
• It delves into the degradation of public discourse on social media platforms and the challenge of navigating "post-truth" narratives.
• Newman contrasts the toxic environment online with the structured, respectful debates she aims to foster in her professional work as a public service journalist.

Key Concepts

• The Aftermath of Viral Content: The discussion highlights the severe personal consequences journalists can face, including doxxing, death threats, and misogynistic abuse targeting them and their families, as a result of their work going viral.
• The Value of Civil Debate: Newman emphasizes that hearing a range of different views is crucial for a healthy public sphere. She values creating spaces where people with opposing perspectives can debate respectfully and learn from one another.
• Social Media's Toxic Influence: The episode touches on how social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), have become breeding grounds for misinformation, hate, and abuse, polluting public discourse and creating echo chambers.
• Journalistic Impartiality vs. Subjectivity: The conversation contrasts the traditional journalistic ideal of impartiality with a newer generational perspective that values knowing a speaker's subjective position upfront, questioning whether true neutrality is possible or even desirable.
• The Role of Public Service Broadcasting: Newman's approach underscores the mission of public service journalism to facilitate constructive conversations, challenge viewpoints rigorously, and hold power to account, distinct from the unfiltered and often abusive nature of online interactions.

Quotes

• At 00:02 - "I love hearing from people who have completely different perspectives from me or from the person they're debating with. I think it's so important that we hear a range of different views." - Cathy Newman explaining why she had no problem conducting the controversial interview with Jordan Peterson.

• At 01:20 - "It was awful getting the death threats, you know, being doxxed, so my home address was put out online... my 13-year-old daughter... stumbling across this pornographic meme that had been made of me on Instagram." - Cathy Newman detailing the severe and personal nature of the abuse she faced.

• At 04:00 - "They manage to debate respectfully and you learn something as a result... And that's kind of what I'm about rather than, you know, the hurling abuse." - Cathy Newman contrasting the constructive debates she facilitates with the toxicity prevalent online.

Takeaways

• Actively seek out diverse perspectives. Make a conscious effort to listen to and engage with viewpoints that challenge your own, as this is essential for learning and fostering a more informed and tolerant society.
• Recognize the difference between debate and abuse. While rigorous debate is healthy, it should not devolve into personal attacks, threats, or harassment. The goal of conversation should be understanding, not destruction.
• Be critical of social media algorithms. Understand that social media platforms often create echo chambers that reinforce existing biases. To get a more balanced view, intentionally follow sources and people from a wide spectrum of opinions.