Skip to content

UK National Safety of Journalists

The NUJ, represented by General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet, is part of the newly-established UK National Safety of Journalists Committee, which is tasked with the creation of an action plan to tackle this growing problem for journalists and journalism.
 
The union has supported members facing attacks on social media; London-based journalists at Iran International and the BBC Persian Service being targeted by the Iranian authorities; reporters and photographers abused and attacked by far right activists; and journalists targeted by criminal gangs and paramilitary groups because of their reporting – just some of the unacceptable abuse happening across the industry.
 
We want to find out more about your experiences to inform this important work, and give you the opportunity to help tackle the problem and help create the action plan.
 
Please take a few moments to complete this confidential survey, to give us an insight into the prevalence of various behaviours and tactics being deployed to threaten or silence journalists and media outlets, or prevent investigations and publishing. 
1.Do you work largely on a staff or freelance/self-employed basis?
2.What sector of the industry do you largely work in?
3.What type of work do you largely do?
4.Do you have a work-focussed social media presence?
5.If yes, tick all that apply:
6.In the past year have you experienced online abuse and harassment in connection with your work / position as a journalist – ie personalised insults and abuse, not simple disagreements/differing viewpoints.
7.Has the volume of abuse and harassment increased or decreased in this period?
8.Has this abuse and harassment become threatening at any time? Eg a specific threat to harm you / your family / suggestion of violent intent etc
9.Have you experienced abuse/threats relating to your:
Yes
No
Gender
Sexuality
Ethnicity
Age
10.Has you experienced abuse/threats relating to the subject content of your work?
11.Does such abuse impact on your wellbeing and mental health?
12.Have you felt fearful or anxious about abuse or threats received?
13.To what extent do you agree with the following statement: "Abuse and harassment has become normalised and seen as part of the job."
14.Have you reported abuse to your Employer / engager
15.If no, why not? 
16.If yes, was your employer/engager supportive
17.Have you reported abuse to the police
18.If yes, was the police supportive and helpful
19.Does your employer/engager have a policy in place to deal with your safety and protecting you from threats or abuse?
20.Do you feel your line manager sees your safety at work as part of their job and responsibility?
21.Has your employer/engager provided training in how to deal with harassment/abuse?
22.Have you reported abuse to social media platforms?
23.If Yes, did it make a difference to the abuse/harassment?
24.Do you believe that social media platforms robustly implement their own policies intended to deter and halt abuse?
25.Should social media platforms be doing more to combat abuse and harassment of users?
26.Have you ever experienced physical threats/targeting, eg stalking; threats to home address; letters; threats at your place of work etc
27.Have you had to make changes to the way you work as a result of harassment/abuse?
28.Have you had to make changes at home and in your personal life because of harassment /abuse? Eg security measures, changing behaviour/routines etc
29.Has harassment and abuse ever made you feel like leaving the industry?
30.Has abuse and harassment you have suffered impacted on your family? 
31.Whilst working in public spaces, have you been deterred from doing your work by (tick all that are applicable):
32.Have you ever been physically assaulted or attacked in the course of your work?
33.Do you agree that polarisation of debate and current levels of public discourse impact adversely on the safety of journalists?
34.To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “Disinformation and fake news is undermining trust in journalism and increasing hostility towards journalists in the course of their work.”
35.To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “Politicians and those in public office have a leadership role to play in maintaining high levels of public discourse, and should avoid dismissing journalistic work as fake news or taking actions to restrict access to journalists.”
36.To what extent do you agree with the following statement: “The abuse and harassment of journalists risks silencing journalistic and censoring debate.”
37.Do you feel your employer could do more to protect you in the course of your work?
38.Have you experienced the following tactics to undermine or stymie your journalistic work:
Yes
No
Abuse of defamation and/or libel laws
National security laws
Official secrets legislation
Slapps
Investigatory powers and/or surveillance
Inappropriate citing of FOI exemptions / delays to requests
DPA/SAR to journalists/media outlets to demand journalistic material/disrupt investigations
39.Have you had any problems with the encroachment of advertising into editorial?
40.Have you or the media outlet you work for been issued with a production order in the last 5 years?
41.What more do you think the union can do to improve safety for journalists?
42.What more do you think the media employers can do to improve safety for journalists?
Monitoring data – important in order that we can ascertain any trends relating to harassment and abuse.
43.Gender
44.What is your age range?
45.What is your ethnicity?
(This list is taken from the UK Government website and is listed in alphabetical order)
46.If you are prepared to participate in work that follows up this survey, please provide your name, phone number and email address.
Thank you for completing this survey.