Journalists are being urged to share their experiences of threats and abuse in a new UK Government survey.

The research has been commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as part of the national action plan for the safety of journalists, which was launched last year.

It aims to capture information that 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.

It is hoped information gleaned from the survey 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 Society of Editors and the National Union of Journalists have also been involved in the survey’s launch.

A piece introducing the survey states: “This survey is to capture information needed to improve protection for UK-based journalists against online abuse and physical threats or danger.

“Threats to or abuse of journalists can be distressing – or worse – and it’s essential we capture a full picture of what is happening, who it is happening to, and why it might be happening, so that it can be effectively addressed.

“We need to understand the full range of experience – so we are asking journalists who have and those who have not encountered abuse or threats to fill out this questionnaire.

“We also need to capture what support journalists understand is available to them.”

The survey can be found here.