Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity reveals that a large number of writers from ethnic marginalised groups experience racial abuse in the workplace and are less likely to progress in their roles.
In recent weeks, ITN Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo and Birmingham City University Media Senior Lecturer, Dr Ellie Tomsett, have conducted a new report on discrimination in the UK news and media industry, and the findings are shocking.
Results find that, out of the 80 anonymous participants, 63% concluded that they have experienced racism in the workplace. Another report showed that 70% of ethnically marginalised groups do not believe that there are sufficient opportunities to progress. These statistics show a large disparity in the potential for personal growth for people of colour working within journalism.
Diversity and the current state of journalism
In 2010, the UK passed the Equality Act. This bill states that ‘public bodies have to consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work – in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees.’ The Equality Act was passed to address issues of discrimination in the UK. Urging the need for fair treatment and inclusion of people of colour in the workplace.
A decade later, the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020 forced the world to address racial bias. As a result, acclaimed publications BBC, ITN and Sky made new arrangements to adhere to better diversity and inclusion.
Now, in 2026, this Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity report finds that marginalised groups are still facing racial injustices in the workforce.
Anonymous Responses from the Report
One comment reads:
“It’s like an apartheid newsroom. You look left and there’s disproportionately too many people [of colour] because everyone’s on the lower rung. And you look on the other side, it’s like, everyone’s almost White. And then everyone obviously on the lower incomes and the lower rungs of the ladder, which is where most of my ethnic minority colleagues are, are doing the kind of slog […] they’re not given being given the same opportunities.”
Another response raises awareness on the number of young diverse writers losing their roles:
“I work for one of the biggest news broadcasters in the UK. I’ve seen a succession of young, diverse talent leave in recent years with no attempts made by management to keep them. Not only is young, diverse talent leaving, there is a glaring lack of diversity and range in the editorial output.”
In November 2025, the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) confirmed that 86% of journalists come from white ethnic groups, higher than all UK workers.’
How does this impact the future of journalism?
What reassurance is there for ethnically marginalised groups that they can enter these spaces comfortably? How can we expect university and college students to have faith in the journalistic sector as a safe space? Free from hate crimes? Based on the information from the report, what are the odds that people of colour can progress from junior, staff writer positions into major editorial roles, such as senior journalist or editor?
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