‘Just a Vile Behaviour’: Appraising Networked Responses to the Physical Assault of 7News Reporter in Melbourne, Australia

This study evaluates responses from Facebook and X users in Australia concerning the attack of Mr Paul Dowsley, a 7News reporter, during the 2021 anti-lockdown and vaccine protests in Melbourne, Australia. Data for this study were taken from a mix of quantitative and qualitative content analysis of Facebook and X posts, comments and replies (N = 22,389) by Facebook and X users in Australia who responded to the attack of the 7News reporter. The qualitative content analysis categorised the responses into the following types: Validators, Invalidators, Intimidators and Accusers. Results from this study show that unlike Validators, Intimidators and Accusers, the Invalidators defended and supported the journalist as they criticised both the attackers and their supporters online. The Invalidators are those whose responses were contrite, supported the journalists in Australia and criticised the actions of the attackers who assaulted the 7News reporter as ‘vile behaviour’. The study shows that many Facebook and X users in Australia who responded to the violent attack invalidated the attack and discouraged threats and violence against journalists in Australia. Finally, implications of the results are discussed.