Journalists in the UK are being urged to share their experiences of online abuse, physical threats and harm in an online survey with research to be used by the government to improve protections.

The survey – the largest of its kind in the UK – aims to capture information which will feed into ongoing work to improve journalists’ safety, including by shaping informed and targeted measures implemented by those including the police, employers and government.

The research – commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – with the support of the Society of Editors and National Union of Journalists follows the publication of the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists in 2021, delivered by the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which brings together all relevant parties to ensure that journalists operating within the UK can do so free from physical threats, abuse and violence.

It is hoped the survey will be repeated at regular intervals so that journalists’ experiences – and the measures to improve them – can be tracked over time. This year’s survey will form the baseline against which to measure future change.

All information provided will be treated confidentially, and the results will be published in a way that will ensure that individuals and the organisations they work for will remain anonymous.

Journalists working in the UK can take part in the survey here and are encouraged to share the link with their UK-based colleagues.