Abstract
This study is reminiscent of the online and offline experiences of women journalists in selected African countries, within the context of press freedom. Based on elements of the intersectionality theoretical framework, we highlight how women of colour find themselves at the intersection of many sources of domination, resulting in specific threats. Secondary data were purposively selected and qualitatively analysed. The findings of the study indicate that even though all journalists are affected, women are disproportionately affected differently due to their gender and sometimes their race too. The peculiarity of their gender has resulted in untold suffering, stigmatisation, under-representation and gender-based violence. Furthermore, it emerged that since patriarchy and intersectional factors continue to impact negatively on the working lives of women journalists across the continent, they disproportionately experience threats such as cyber trolling, racism, sexual harassment and gender-related threats in their online and offline activities, which all have a direct impact on their safety. Based on these findings, we recommended change for the status quo and called for concerted actions from various stakeholders, aimed at influencing social change in a corrective way to the perpetrators of such threats.