GRAFFITI targetting Derry journalist Leona O'Neill has been branded "vile and dangerous".
Ms O'Neill, an Irish News columnist, posted a photograph on social media of the graffiti, which appeared in the Creggan area on Tuesday, describing it as a "threat to her safety".
"I am neither a MI5 tout nor a s*** stirrer," she wrote.
"I am a journalist, working in my city trying to provide for my family. I consider this a threat to my safety.
"I call on community leaders to help me get this dangerous slur removed now."
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described it as "vile and dangerous" and a "clear attempt to intimidate a hard-working, committed journalist".
In a joint statement, the NUJ's Michelle Stanistreet and Séamus Dooley said: "We strongly condemn this vile and dangerous threat.
"Leona has proven herself to be a journalist of resilience with a strong passion for Derry. We would call on civic and community leaders to support journalists and to defend media freedom.
"Journalists must be free to report without intimidation. to describe a journalist as an agent of a police force is dangerous and poses a threat to their ability to do their job."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Ms O'Neill was a "tenacious, truth-seeking journalist who speaks truth to power and won’t be intimidated by faceless criminals who are trying to silence her".
"Those behind this graffiti are cowards and they’re targetting Leona because they’re afraid of her honest and powerful journalism," he said.
Sinn Féin's Martina Anderson said:"What made this particular threat even more sinister is that it appeared in the area where journalist Lyra McKee was murdered last year.
"I want to extend my thanks to community activists who moved swiftly to paint over the graffiti.
"Those behind this threat have nothing to offer the people of this community and this city."
Ms O'Neill later wrote on social media: "The community have responded to it and it has been painted over.
"Thank you so much for your kindness and solidarity, it lifts me up, genuinely."
