Journalists across the UK are self-censoring their reporting on certain topics due to growing concerns about their personal safety, according to a government-backed investigation reported by the Guardian. The findings point to reporters avoiding or altering coverage of rightwing protests, Donald Trump’s administration and trans issues.

The investigation found that hundreds of journalists from across the UK anonymously disclosed increasing nervousness about their security. Some said intimidation had led them to change how and what they report, resulting in self-censorship.

The report describes this trend as contributing to “a narrowing of the public conversation,” suggesting that fears over safety are affecting the range of subjects covered and the way they are presented to the public.

Newsrooms themselves were criticised in the investigation, which accused them of “normalising” the risks that journalists face. This suggests that concerns about safety are becoming an accepted feature of the working environment rather than being actively addressed.

According to the Guardian, the disclosures were made anonymously, allowing journalists to speak candidly about the pressures they experience. The scale of the response — described as hundreds of journalists — indicates the concerns are widespread rather than isolated.

The investigation focuses specifically on three areas of coverage: rightwing protests, the Trump administration and trans issues. These were identified as topics where journalists reported feeling most exposed to intimidation and where self-censorship was most likely to occur.