Diversity in Journalism 2022

This report provides a fascinating insight into the characteristics of UK journalists.

Now an annual report, it is designed to help us monitor progress and change.

The continuing increase in the number of journalists working in the UK is particularly interesting. It suggests that journalism remains a positive choice for a career in terms of the availability of opportunities and competition for talent.

It is heartening that there is good progress with gender balance, including at senior editorial levels where there had been concerns that there may be gender disparity.

Progress has also been made with the employment of journalists with disabilities and health issues.

To some extent, there has been an improvement in ethnicity representation although there is still more work to be done. What is worrying is that there are clearly issues associated with promoting those from non-white ethnic groups into more senior editorial roles.

There are also ongoing issues with social class which need to be addressed as a priority. This is linked to journalism being a ‘graduate-level’ occupation with most new entrants being selected from a highly educated graduate pool. As those in higher education are not representative of the wider population, then (without specific targeting) neither will those who are recruited into journalism from university.

Our research programme, including reports like this, are vital to present the facts, highlight the real issues and measure progress. It is also important that we all take action.

– Joanne Butcher, chief executive, NCTJ