The Impact of Legal Intimidation on Investigative Journalists
Barbara Longo-Flint · 2025
This chapter examines the impact of legal intimidation on investigative journalism, with a particular focus on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). It tracks the implementation of legal protections in the UK and Italy, highlighting the limited safeguards available to journalists in these countries. Additionally, the chapter reviews international trends in Anti-SLAPP legislation, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia, where stronger legal frameworks have been developed to counter these threats and protect freedom of the press. Through a combination of survey data and semi-structured interviews with journalists, the research reveals the significant professional and personal tolls of SLAPPs, which often lead to self-censorship or the abandonment of critical public interest stories. The chapter also explores the emotional toll on journalists, many of whom report heightened anxiety, burnout, and isolation as a result of persistent legal threats. In response, the chapter outlines practical strategies to build resilience, including strengthening legal knowledge and monitoring global developments in Anti-SLAPP legislation.