TV traffic reporter Leslie Horton has developed a thick skin over the years because of nasty feedback from viewers, but she unleashed a viral smackdown last week after she says one of them “crossed my line.”
The usually unflappable host, who has been at Global Calgary since 1995, was about to give a live report on the morning show when she decided to read out a message she received during a break.
“I’m just gonna respond to an email that I just got saying, 'Congratulations on your pregnancy. If you’re gonna wear old bus-driver pants, you have to expect emails like this,”’ Horton said.
“So thanks for that,” she responded. "No, I’m not pregnant. I actually lost my uterus to cancer last year. And this is what women of my age look like. So if it is offensive to you, that is unfortunate.
“Think about the emails that you send.”
I wonder how much support Horton and other public-facing reporters get from their employers in response to online harassment (e.g., email/IP blocking, sending cease and desist letters, private investigation, psychological support). I haven’t fully thought through the ramifications of those actions, but it seems to me that these reporters receive abuse because of the nature of their employment and thus it behooves employers to protect their employees. I suspect, however, the reporters are left to defend themselves and told “that’s the nature of the job.” But, if true, I think that lack of employer protection/support helps fuel this kind of harassment