This study explores how journalists and editors targeted by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) perceive organizational and social support. Content analysis based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with journalists and editors from Malta, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia shed light on the importance of a broad, diverse, and stable support network – ranging from the level of media organizations to the wider journalistic community, and ultimately to family and friends. Support from colleagues and superiors within the media organizations of the sued journalists and editors emerged as the primary source of support. The broader journalistic community proved crucial especially when support within the organization was lacking but remained consistently important for validating the work of journalists, maintaining a sense of security and confidence. Family and friends provided essential social support, especially on an emotional level, but also acted as a source of concern and doubt about the value of their work. The findings confirm that perceived organizational and social support across multiple levels serves as a key buffer or mitigating factor against the negative effects of SLAPPs and represents an important source of professional stability, motivation, and personal reassurance for journalists and editors targeted by such lawsuits.
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