A significant proportion of UK journalists are altering their reporting practices due to fears for personal safety, according to findings from a government-backed investigation into press security.
The study, conducted by Alma Economics, reveals that nearly a third of journalists have changed how or what they report, driven by growing intimidation and threats. Hundreds of reporters participated anonymously, disclosing increasing nervousness about their safety while covering sensitive topics.
Journalists reported self-censoring content related to right-wing protests, the Trump administration, and transgender issues. Many described avoiding certain stories altogether, leading to concerns about a narrowing of public discourse. Some recounted instances of looking over their shoulders or checking if they were being followed after assignments.
The investigation found widespread belief that abuse against journalists, particularly online, has increased. Newsroom cultures were criticized for treating this rise as inevitable in today’s polarized political climate, with reporters often expected to be “thick-skinned.” Female journalists faced disproportionate gendered and sexualized harassment, including explicit threats and inappropriate messages.
Topics frequently cited as problematic included right-wing anti-immigration protests, coverage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and trans-related issues. Investigators noted that anti-immigration protests posed both in-person risks and online backlash for reporters.
Similar patterns have emerged in the United States, where the International Women’s Media Foundation reported journalists facing heightened political polarization, declining public trust, and increased physical and psychological risks.
Accounts from Northern Ireland detail journalists facing intimidation from masked individuals while covering anti-immigration riots. In another incident, footage of a reporter at a protest was circulated in a Facebook group, with users attempting to identify and locate the journalist. A female reporter was subjected to misogynistic heckling at a “Unite the Kingdom” rally, with the footage later shared on social media.
The comprehensive assessment surveyed 531 journalists and conducted 55 in-depth interviews. Almost half reported that safety concerns influenced their willingness to cover certain stories, while approximately one-third had modified their approach or topic selection.
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The shift toward online and video journalism has made reporters more identifiable, according to participants. “Journalists used to be much more anonymous,” said one reporter. “Now, you’re expected to be live, presenting TikToks all the time … People talk about all sorts of things about like: ‘What’s the future of journalism?’ and ‘How can we adapt?’ But very rarely is it discussed, ‘What does that take from us?’ And especially from female journalists.”
While participants acknowledged that the UK remains relatively safe for journalists compared to other countries, they noted that risks have intensified over time. Contributing factors include declining public trust, narratives labeling media as “fake news,” and blurred boundaries between journalists and the public due to the rise of untrained “citizen journalists” with large online audiences.
“The research findings make for grim reading,” said Laura Davison, the National Union of Journalists’ general secretary. “Abuse should never be viewed as part of a journalist’s job. Not only does this behavior have a hugely detrimental impact on people’s lives, it also has a chilling effect on journalists’ ability to do their jobs and freedom of the press.”
“It’s also time for social media companies to finally recognize their responsibility in preventing abuse and harassment.”
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson stated that the government is working with the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists to address harassment and threats. “It is crucial to create the conditions in which reporters feel supported and protected so that they can focus on telling the stories that matter most,” they said.
