Overview
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism was established in 2006 at the University of Oxford. It was created to examine the future of journalism and support high-quality, independent news media worldwide. The Institute combines academic research with engagement from journalists, media leaders, and policymakers. Its work is grounded in evidence-based research and aims to improve understanding of how journalism evolves in response to technological, economic, and societal change. While housed within Oxford, the Institute operates with a clearly defined identity and global remit.
Mission and focus areas
The Institute’s mission is to foster better journalism through rigorous research and dialogue between academia and the media industry. It focuses on how news is produced, distributed, consumed, and trusted in different political and economic contexts. Key research areas include digital news consumption, media trust, misinformation, platform power, artificial intelligence in journalism, and the sustainability of news business models. Although not a sustainability or ESG organisation, its research is relevant to sustainable finance and governance through its analysis of information integrity, transparency, and the health of public-interest media ecosystems.
Structure and governance
Reuters Institute operates as an academic institute within the University of Oxford, with its own leadership and dedicated research staff. It is led by a Director and supported by senior researchers, fellows, and administrative teams. The Institute maintains advisory relationships with global media organisations and funders, including the Thomson Reuters Foundation. It also hosts visiting fellows and practitioners, creating a structured environment for collaboration between research and industry.
Programs and offerings
The Institute is best known for its flagship Digital News Report, an annual global survey widely used by researchers, investors, and policymakers. It also publishes thematic reports, working papers, and commentary on media trends and regulation. In addition, the Institute runs fellowship programmes for journalists and media leaders, convenes conferences and seminars, and provides open-access datasets. These outputs offer valuable insights into media risk, information quality, and long-term societal resilience, supporting informed decision-making across policy, finance, and sustainability contexts.
Our mission
We believe in the value of independent journalism, the power of news, and the importance of an informed public. We are committed to the timeless journalistic aspiration of seeking truth and reporting it, as well as the ongoing work of remaking the profession and the organisations that enable it. Our focus is on journalism, the media industry, and the public that they serve.
By connecting practice and research, by facilitating global exchange, and by driving conversations around the future of news, we work to ensure that journalists, editors, and media executives face the opportunities and challenges of a changing media environment from a position of strength. Our goal is to help them build better and more sustainable journalism for tomorrow.
