The Fragile Horizon: Concerns Mount for the Future of LGBTQ+ Media in the UK as PinkNews Faces Uncertainty

As it approaches its 20th anniversary next year, PinkNews ought to be commemorating a time that has witnessed significant advancements for some yet not all LGBTQ+ individuals in Britain.

However, the future of the largest LGBTQ+ website in the world appears bleak following several allegations of sexual impropriety directed at Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James, the duo managing the platform.

Established in 2005 while Cohen served as the technology correspondent for Channel 4 News, the website has occasionally leveraged its authority for beneficial transformations in British LGBTQ+ life. It was involved in a successful initiative to legalize same-sex marriage, and the outlet’s relentless journalism compelled Stonewall to advocate for transgender rights at a moment when the rights organization refrained from doing so.

Its standing as a credible representative for the LGBTQ+ community has attracted numerous prominent backers. Six former prime ministers, including Tony Blair, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson, have contributed articles to the platform. Richard Branson, David Cameron, and Alex Salmond are among those who have received recognition at the publication’s yearly awards.

Now, the atmosphere has turned negative. Last week, Downing Street labeled the accusations against Cohen and James as “extremely troubling,” and James was suspended from his position at the Bedfordshire hospitals NHS foundation trust.

The potential decline of an influential publication that portrays itself as a refuge for LGBTQ+ journalists has resulted in disappointment and raised broader concerns about the condition of queer media in the UK.

“It’s horrifying to hear these allegations, particularly for the journalists who are employed there. There aren’t many LGBTQ+ publications in the UK, especially ones with such financial support and influence,” stated investigative journalist Finbarr Toesland.

Last year, Toesland conducted a research study, commissioned by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) at Birmingham City University, which uncovered that LGBTQ+ journalists confront an increasingly unwelcoming environment in the UK. Seventy-eight percent of respondents concurred that it is becoming more perilous to be an LGBTQ+ journalist in the UK.

“I was quite taken aback at the time to hear their accounts and how difficult they had found it. One particular instance involved a journalist in sports media. Upon entering a press briefing, they overheard someone remark: ‘That’s that gay journalist from x publication.’ There are instances of individuals feeling targeted because of their sexuality and experiencing homophobic harassment,” he recounted.

Online harassment presents a specific challenge. Toesland mentioned that some openly LGBTQ+ journalists are labeled by their supervisors and compelled to cover topics that render them susceptible to social media attacks.

“To have effective reporting on LGBTQ+ matters, it is essential to create a secure environment for journalists to perform that work. There must be systems established to guarantee that journalists feel safe and also know that they have the support of their media outlets.”

The upheaval at PinkNews, one of the dwindling profitable digital media organizations, coincides with a downturn in the broader LGBTQ+ media sector. Gay Times halted its print magazine in 2021 and transitioned to solely a digital operation. QX Magazine, a complimentary magazine based in London and distributed to LGBTQ+ venues across the UK, ceased its operations in 2021 after nearly three decades in print.

“The loss of any major LGBTQ+ media entity is unfortunate. If you’re a young queer journalist aspiring to work in LGBTQ+ media, or to share stories you believe are urgent and essential, where will you do it? These platforms are not accessible, particularly when you’re just beginning,” remarked Toesland.

Digital media in general has experienced tumultuous times. Many of the most prominent digital publications of the 2010s have recently shut down, including Vice.com, BuzzFeed News, and gal-dem, which showcased work by women of color and non-binary individuals of color.

In the previous year, over 8,000 journalists across the UK, US, and Canada were laid off. Black journalists have discussed the repercussions these shutdowns have had on their workloads, editorial independence, and ability to earn a livelihood while still in the media.

Within an industry that had long been dominated by a few, these publications provided journalists from marginalized backgrounds a previously absent platform to launch their careers. There are concerns that, in their absence, the industry is reverting to its previous norms.

“We’ve witnessed a surge of independent news and media organizations catering to underrepresented

“communities, both in the UK and worldwide, compelled to scale back operations or close down entirely due to an environment that is simply too difficult to thrive in,” stated Suyin Haynes, a lecturer in journalism at City St George’s, University of London, and the previous head of editorial at gal-dem from 2021 until its closure in 2023.

She mentioned that “drastically reduced funding, the instability of revenue models once believed to be foolproof, evolving trends in audience engagement, and the emergence of AI” have played a role in this situation.

Consequently, she pointed out, the narratives of marginalized groups were “remaining untold.” For journalists aiming to cover underrepresented communities, opportunities are increasingly scarce.

“A decrease in the venues where these stories are shared signifies it is even more challenging to get your foot in the door. For more seasoned journalists, diminished resources imply that it is now considerably harder for pitches to secure approval.”

Some UK newsrooms have brought on reporters focusing on underrepresented communities, but hurdles regarding retention and recruiting more entry-level journalists from these groups continue to persist. Despite the negative trends in digital media, Haynes remains hopeful for what lies ahead.

Younger cohorts are increasingly engaging with independent content creators for news, potentially allowing a new generation of digital journalists to circumvent traditional platforms and establish their presence on social media.

“What’s genuinely uplifting is the creativity and entrepreneurship that the evolving environment has nurtured among journalists and storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds,” declared Haynes. “However, this must be combined with substantial systemic transformation and support.”

On Tuesday, Cohen and James addressed the allegations levied against them. In a statement, the duo noted that they had filed a “criminal complaint to the police concerning alleged offences directed towards [them] that are related to these recent reports” in August. They elaborated that they informed the BBC the accusations were “vehemently denied” when the broadcaster presented the allegations to them but had been advised against making a statement due to the ongoing stage of the police investigation.