Defend yourself against the trolls! Panel, launch of "Online Harassment Field Manual," April 27

The National Press Club Journalism Institute and PEN America have teamed up to present an important discussion to help and empower writers, journalists and all those active online with practical tools and tactics to defend against hateful speech and trolling.

The program will be held April 27 in the National Press Club’s Holeman Lounge, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. There is no charge for the event but reservations are required. Attendees can RSVP here.

Panel participants include:

· Soraya Chemaly, Women’s Media Center

· Wesley Lowery, The Washington Post

· Julia Ioffe, The Atlantic

· Jonathan Weisman, The New York Times

· Suzanne Nossel, chief executive officer of PEN America

· Dr. Michelle Ferrier, associate professor, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, and founder of TrollBusters: Online Pest Control for Women Writers

PEN American will launch its "Online Harassment Field Manual," a first-of-its-kind resource not just for individual writers and journalists but also for the people and institutions that employ them. The manual includes first-person stories and resources for improving cyber security, establishing supportive cyber communities, practicing self-care and turning to law enforcement during episodes of online abuse, as well as recommendations for allies and witnesses on how they can support journalists and writers who are targets of hostility online.