The UK’s media has claimed the top ranking of 12 European countries on the first Media Diversity Index.
The Index, produced by the Media Diversity Research Centre, is a benchmark for evaluating the performance of countries regarding diversity and inclusion in their media.
With a score of 65.25, the UK comes slightly ahead of Belgium. Two other nations, Lithuania and Portugal, were the only other countries to score close to 60. Those with a score of around 60 are classified as Tier 1 countries: their scores boosted by evidence of diversity provision being built into regulation, recruitment and handling complaints.
The Index, prepared by Peter Block and Naomi Sakr, covers both governance and content and is created through an expert survey, whereby responses gathered translate into scores.
Like other countries in Tier 1 of the pilot index, the UK benefits from diversity provision being mandatory or promoted in significant aspects of regulation, recruitment and handling complaints, which are three of four areas covered by the survey.
The scores are less encouraging in the area of access and representation. The nature and extent of representation of diverse groups in society is mixed, depending on platform, region and group.
In terms of diversity outcomes, the results for broadcast and print media diverge. One of the main reasons is regulatory differences; there is no press equivalent of the conditionality and accountability that are linked to the licensing of UK broadcasters.
However, the report highlights that the differences between print and broadcast in the UK are nuanced, because some newspapers have been proactive in promoting inclusive journalism, while there are pockets of resistance to diversity initiatives in the television industry. Ultimately, performance on diversity comes down not only to policies or procedures, but to editorial and workplace attitudes.
Data for the UK media diversity survey were gathered during April and May 2025 through expert interviews and a large body of industry reports and academic articles.
“Last year, we ran a pilot of the Media Diversity Index in 11 European countries”, says Dr Verica Rupar, head of the Media Diversity Research Centre. “The results showed why it’s so important to have comparative data to start measuring how media are doing on inclusion and pluralism. We’re now hoping to secure funding to expand the study, so we can get a clearer picture of media diversity in all 27 EU countries.”
“The Index is a useful tool for different sectors, including the media, civil society groups, policy makers and researchers at an academic level. It can also help organisations that represent different communities, minorities, and vulnerable groups. It is an advocacy tool which can be used when talking to policy makers, the media, and regulators,” says Milica Pesic, Executive Director of Media Diversity Institute.
Report recommendations for the UK include to:
- Synthesise, systematise and publicise regular data collection by academics and lobbying groups that evaluate the performance of newspapers regulated by IPSO in regard to both their reporting on diverse groups and their recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce.
- Ensure that socioeconomic status is kept in the foreground in reports on and discussions about media diversity.
- Include data on promotion and seniority as standard in all media diversity reporting or indicate where it is outdated or still missing.
- Introduce measures to cross-reference different dimensions of media diversity in monitoring and reporting, with the aim of increasing awareness of, and knowledge about, the intersectional patterns underlying inequalities in the media environment.
MDI began piloting the Media Diversity Index in 11 European countries in 2024. Existing Indexes evaluate, monitor and rank national information systems in relation to press and internet freedom, civil and political rights, and the trustworthiness of journalism. The Media Diversity Index is unique in its focus on diversity and inclusion.
Read the report: Media Diversity Index. A Pilot Study. 2024.
Listen to a podcast with an interview with Index lead Naomi Sakr.
