LGBTQ+ journalists face high levels of abuse in UK, study finds
LGBTQ+ journalists in the UK face “high levels” of abuse and a majority do not feel adequately protected by their employer, according to a groundbreaking new study.
The research, which was commissioned by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC), found that online abuse targeting the sexual orientation and gender identity of LGBTQ+ journalists is now commonplace.
More than eight in 10 (82 per cent) respondents shared that they had faced online trolling, while over half (56 per cent) were subjected to homophobic harassment.
Many also believe their role to be dangerous, with 76 per cent of those surveyed either disagreeing or strongly disagreeing that media organisations are adequately protecting them from harassment and abuse. READ MORE: Hate crimes reach record high in England and Wales as anti-trans offences double Half of study participants said that they wouldn’t know who to reach out to at their work for support if they were to become the focus of a targeted harassment campaign online.
