Journalists are increasingly becoming targeted with abuse, both online and on the ground. With growing dangers in the industry, students continue to pursue careers in reporting, accepting the fact that they are likely to face harassment at work.
A report by Reuters Institute shows that around 71 per cent of UK journalists have experienced demeaning or hateful speech at least once between 2020 and 2025. It also shows that hate speech, public discrediting, and other threats or intimidation are the top three dangers UK journalists have faced between 2020 and 2025.
The rise in abuse has resulted in police involvement. Journalist safety liaison officers (JSLOs) were established last October to ensure journalists have a dedicated point of contact in every police force across the UK.
Brig spoke to University of Stirling journalism students about their feelings on the subject, and if this has affected their desire to enter the industry.
Ali Rees, a third-year journalism and film and media student, began their journalism journey during lockdown. After sitting down to ponder their career options, Ali’s skillset pointed them towards writing.
“Journalism felt like the area where I could use my skills to make a difference in the world the most,” they said.
Like many student journalists, Ali has already experienced some dangers in journalism.
Ali is openly queer, and they believe their appearance has played a part in the online abuse they have received.
“If you don’t conform to a certain expectation that audiences have, you risk getting verbal attacks or comments on articles which have nothing to do with the articles and everything to do with who you are as a journalist and as a person. It’s increasingly common.
“It’s a different type of danger, but it’s still a danger,” they said.
Hateful comments have not dulled Ali’s spark thus far, and they continue to write with passion.
“[The hate] definitely doesn’t outweigh the positivities, but it does make you stop and think sometimes. I could just work in marketing as a copywriter and that would be less dangerous for me, but we have to persist, right?” they said.
Elliot Johnston, a fourth-year journalism and politics student, has dealt with similar issues during his studies.
His love for reading and learning alongside a passion for politics drew him to the career.
“Reporting on anything that becomes a hot button, cultural issue, you then become ‘the enemy’. There’s a risk of online harassment or doxing. Violence or hate in the street is becoming an increasingly common issue,” he said.
Elliot has previously starred in a couple of Brig TikToks, speaking on events such as the Reclaim the Night March in Stirling, a march advocating for women’s safety.
“It wasn’t so much backlash [we received] as it was quite horrid comment sections,” he explained.
Similar to Ali, Elliot doesn’t let the abuse weigh him down. He explained that other industry-related concerns would shake him from this career path before hateful attacks do.
The National Union for Journalists (NUJ) have launched safety initiatives designed to protect journalists.
A journalism safety tracker was launched by the union in 2024. The tracker aims to provide the NUJ with evidence on what threats journalists are facing to their safety before taking their findings to policy makers. From there, decisions can be made regarding what should be done to protect reporters.
The NUJ also published evidence on the safety of journalists faced with paramilitary threats in Northern Ireland.
Two members of the NUJ, both in Northern Ireland, have been killed due to their reporting.
An NUJ spokesperson said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe in their workplace, but in the last few years journalists have faces increasing abuse, threats and violence simply for doing their jobs.
“A free press, and accurate, dependable journalism is a crucial part of our democracy, and governments, the police and online platforms need to recognise the chilling effect of intimidation aimed at the press and broadcasters.”
Featured Image Credit: Pexels Cottonbro Studio
Fourth year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Words at Brig, The Daily Evergreen, Alloa Advertiser, Discovery Music Scotland, and The Mourning Paper.
