ABC News Breakfast presenter Lisa Millar has publicly addressed "obnoxious commentary" she has received on social media in recent days.
On Tuesday, the ABC asked for a more responsible approach by some media outlets when reporting on the online abuse of female journalists.
The statement came after news.com.au and the Daily Mail ran stories covering the commentary and included examples, which the ABC described as "republishing abuse".
This morning, Millar addressed News Breakfast viewers directly.
"I'd like to take a minute to talk about what went on during the last 48 hours. If you're blessedly oblivious and you've just been getting on with your life – great! – I won't dwell on it," she said.
"The fact that what I wore on Monday attracted obnoxious commentary on Twitter – foul disgusting personal abuse that I couldn't and wouldn't repeat – was upsetting.
"That it then ended up online on some news sites where the photos and the abuse were republished made me angry.
"Thanks for all the support, you've all been awesome and some of you pretty funny, [with] some of you suggesting if we all turned up in pyjamas you'd still be fans of the show.
"I am angry though, on this International Women's Day, on behalf of myself, but also on behalf of other women, young women, who see those stories and see someone like me being violently abused day after day for whatever reason bullies can find.
"I worry it might make you think that no progress has been made and that it's not worth it to be a woman in the public arena.
"On this International Women's Day I want to tell you the response over that rubbish yesterday gives me hope.
"We are making progress, and we will make more, and there are so many awesome women who we can all look up to. Let's celebrate them today.
"And please, make a conscious decision today to be part of the solution. Play a part in making our communities a better, kinder place, for everyone."
News coverage 'republished abuse', ABC says
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ABC says it "regularly receives queries concerning abusive comments being made on social media about presenters and journalists, particularly female ones".
"Under the guise of concern, these stories are republishing abuse," the statement said.
"The ABC is not going to dignify any 'vile comments' being made about a presenter’s clothes by responding to them.
"If Daily Mail Australia and news.com.au were genuine in their concern about such behaviour they wouldn't amplify it by republishing the comments they describe as 'vile' and 'sickening', accompanied by a screenshot.
"Giving anonymous social media bullies publicity on a national platform is participating in perpetuating antisocial behaviour and the very serious issue of online abuse of women."
ABC News Director Justin Stevens said the "relentless and vile bullying Lisa Millar is subjected to on social media, particularly Twitter, is unacceptable".
"She is an outstanding broadcaster and journalist and does an incredible job.
"Media outlets that amplify this disgusting anonymous trolling need to take a good hard look at themselves and their standards."
Online abuse of women 'particularly gendered'
Appearing on News Breakfast this morning, Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher was asked about Millar's experience.
She said the abuse women face was "often sexualised" and "threatening".
"For women in public life, unfortunately, at the moment this is part of our experience," she said.
"When I see it happen it's incredibly frustrating and distressing because we all endure it, in one way or another.
"We know the nature of the trolling and abuse of women online is particularly nasty, it's particularly gendered, it's often sexualised, it's often threatening, and to some degree if we want to pursue careers that are in the public life our choice is put up with it or withdraw from it.
"It's not an acceptable situation at all.
"We're not going to have a gender-equal Australia if people are seeing Lisa's experience, and others' experience, it will mean that women choose not to go and pursue careers where they have to endure that kind of online abuse."
Ms Gallagher added: "We all have a responsibility, a broader community responsibility, to deal with these situations when they emerge in a responsible way."
"Amplifying it, repeating it, providing clickbait to generate readers or customers to your site, is completely unacceptable because it makes the problem worse."
'You have gone through the absolute wringer'
Co-host Michael Rowland said Millar's presence on the News Breakfast couch following the commentary was "a testament to your courage and strength".
"I speak on behalf of all of us here ... you're an amazing woman, one of Australia's best journalists, one of the smartest women I know," he said.
"And we've all seen behind the scenes here you have gone through a lot, you have gone through the absolute wringer in the last couple of days.
"And you're too nice to name them, but the outlets that amplified those comments were news.com.au and the Daily Mail," Rowland added.
Several of Millar's colleagues have rallied behind the presenter in an outpouring of support on social media.
Leigh Sales called the abuse "beyond disgusting, as is its republication", while Annabel Crabb said Millar's "professionalism in the face of this bulls**t says a lot more about you than any of the disgraceful material involved".
