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Below are 16 free or partially free sources that provide data, reports, tools, and insights into trends, practices, and challenges in journalism & media. Good for backing up stories, understanding audience metrics, or shaping newsroom strategy.
| Hub | What It Offers | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) | Publishes the Digital News Report with data from ~95,000 online news consumers in ~47 countries. Also has studies on trust, newsroom leadership, etc. | Compare audience behaviour across countries; find data on trust or willingness to pay. |
| Reporters Without Borders (RSF) | Their Press Freedom Index shows legislative, political, social, and security conditions in various countries. | For reporting on freedom of the press, media environment risks, and comparing country rankings. |
| Pew Research Center | Public opinion data; includes surveys about news consumption, perceptions, social media, etc. Mostly US-oriented but with international data too. | To get survey data/trend lines on media trust, user habits, and platform usage. |
| JournalismAI (LSE Polis / Google News Initiative) | Research, case studies, and reports about AI in journalism (ethics, tools, effects). | Useful when working on stories about AI tools in media, automation, and ethics. |
| Ofcom (UK) | Reports on UK broadcast consumption, public service obligations, performance of broadcasters, etc. | For UK-based work on TV/radio audiences, regulation, and spectrum. |
| Comscore | Analytics platform ranking top digital sites, mobile vs desktop traffic, etc. Limited country coverage. | To see how media outlets compare in reach, traffic, and trends in digital vs mobile. |
| National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) | Industry research with a strong focus on diversity within UK journalism. | Good for investigating representation, diversity trends, and equality issues. |
| Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) | Index that profiles the independent publishing sector; publishes surveys about indie newsrooms. | For studying small-scale news outlets, public interest journalism economics. |
| International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) | Global research projects: disinformation, safety of journalists, effects of the pandemic, etc. | Reporting on safety risks, global threats to journalism, and journalism in crisis zones. |
| Socialinsider | Provides benchmarks and case studies about social media usage and audience growth on platforms. | Useful for digital audience work, comparing performance across platforms. |
| ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations/analogues) | Independent verification of media circulation / reach figures; magazine, newspaper, newsletter data. | To cite verified circulation/distribution numbers. |
| Newsguard | Ratings/evaluations of online information sources; misinformation tracking; “Reality Check” newsletter. | For assessing source credibility, reporting on misinformation. |
| YouGov | Survey data on public opinion, including media-related questions, and global coverage. | Polling public attitudes to media, politics, and trust. |
| WAN-IFRA | World Press Trends outlook reports; broader data on publishers, press trends. (Membership required for some content.) | High-level global comparisons; industry trends. |
| Charitable Journalism Project | Research to influence policy; e.g., tracking news deserts in the UK. | Local journalism decline; access to news; public policy impact. |
| Medill Local News Initiative (US focus) | Research & analyses on the US local news sector, digital disruption, and “State of Local News” reports. | If doing comparative work about local news challenges, it is useful even outside the US for patterns. |
Why These Matter
- Evidence-based journalism benefits hugely from robust data—whether you’re exploring media trust, misinformation, audience behaviours, diversity, or the financial viability of news outlets.
- These hubs often combine quantitative (surveys, metrics) + qualitative (case studies, reports) research, giving multiple angles.
- For international or comparative stories, many hubs provide cross-country data (e.g., RISJ, Pew, WAN-IFRA), helpful to contextualize what’s happening in your country.
- When covering regulatory issues, media safety, or press freedom, sources like RSF, ICFJ, and Newsguard are particularly relevant.
Reference –
https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/10-media-research-hubs-for-journalists/s2/a744411/