Ep 355: Surviving a terror attack only to face online trolls

Emma Rushton was enjoying a holiday in Berlin's Christmas markets when terrorists struck.

12 people were killed when a lorry ploughed through a packed city centre in December 2016.

Despite the trauma she'd witnessed in the market, Emma's experience as a journalist meant she was invited to speak to media from around the world as an eye-witness.

Her training meant she could set out the facts clearly and concisely, and TV companies were keen to hear her testimony.

But the reaction online opened her eyes to the world of internet trolls.

The abuse was appalling - aimed at someone who had just survived a terrorist incident.

Almost a decade on Emma is sharing her story to let people know what being trolled feels like, and how she's using her skills and experience to help others with a new programme on tackling social media during a crisisThis conversation features details of a terrorist incident, and includes details of troll comments that some people might find upsetting.

Host Mick Coyle is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and producer. You can contact him on the usual social media channels and LinkedIn

Signposting services are named at the end of the episode.

Topics: Terror, news, Berlin, trolls, comment sections, PR, tackling hate online, lived experience, surviving a terror attack, guilt, fear, therapy.