68%
First, the coverage changed
Editorial decisions shifted.
Sixty-eight percent noticed changes in how editors assign, frame, or edit coverage of MENA communities. Only 10% said they had noticed no change.
AMEJA Research
Survey of MENA Journalists
Newsroom experiences since October 7
Introduction
Since October 7, journalists of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent have faced intensified scrutiny in their newsrooms. To better understand these experiences, AMEJA surveyed about 70 journalists working across the United States and beyond.
The findings are clear: reporters of MENA descent are asked to prove their neutrality more than their peers, their identities are treated as implied biases, they are discouraged from covering stories tied to their communities, and they receive little institutional support.
This report captures not just data but the lived experiences of journalists working under suspicion, silencing pressures, and fear at the exact moment their voices are most needed.
Key Findings
Many journalists feel the space for their reporting has narrowed since October 7.
Read together, the findings form a clear progression: editorial decisions shape the standard, identity affects how that standard is applied, and the consequences reach journalists’ speech and safety.
85%
Then, the burden of proof rose
MENA reporting faced a higher neutrality standard.
Eighty-five percent said reporting on the MENA region has been held to a higher standard of neutrality or balance than coverage of other regions.
75%
The standard was not applied equally
Objectivity depended on who was reporting.
Three-quarters said newsroom expectations of objectivity are applied unevenly depending on a journalist’s background or identity.
68%
Identity itself became evidence
Journalists’ impartiality was explicitly questioned.
Sixty-eight percent said their impartiality had been questioned because of their ethnicity, religion, or perceived connection to the communities they cover.
75%
The pressure changed behavior
Many journalists began censoring themselves.
Three-quarters said they had self-censored their language or reporting because they feared professional repercussions, editorial pushback, or audience backlash.
44%
The risk extended beyond the newsroom
Online harassment increased.
Forty-four percent reported at least some increase in online harassment related to their reporting or identity since October 7.
Full Survey Results
What journalists told us
The complete findings move from editorial standards to professional safety and, finally, the support journalists receive from their institutions.
Hover over a response row to see the respondent count. Percentages appear at the end of each bar.
01 / Editorial Standards
How newsroom standards are applied
These responses trace the editorial pattern from heightened neutrality requirements to identity-based scrutiny, constrained assignments, and changes in how MENA coverage is framed.
Do you feel newsroom expectations around objectivity are applied unevenly based on a journalist’s background or identity?
Yes
75.36%
Somewhat
11.59%
No
4.35%
Not sure
8.70%
Do you feel your reporting on the MENA region is held to a higher standard of neutrality or “balance” than coverage of other regions?
Always
50.75%
Often
22.39%
Sometimes
11.94%
Rarely
7.46%
Never
7.46%
Have you ever had your objectivity or impartiality questioned based on your ethnic or religious background?
Yes, frequently
15.94%
Yes, occasionally
52.17%
No
31.88%
Have you been discouraged—explicitly or implicitly—from reporting on issues related to Palestine, Islam, or MENA identity?
Yes
44.93%
No
55.07%
Have you faced editorial pushback when trying to pitch or publish stories that center MENA voices?
Yes, frequently
20.90%
Yes, occasionally
35.82%
No
43.28%
Have you been asked to include disclaimers, qualifiers, or opposing viewpoints in your work in ways that feel disproportionate or performative?
Yes, frequently
19.12%
Yes, occasionally
42.65%
No
38.24%
Since October 7, have you noticed any changes in how your editors assign, frame, or edit coverage related to MENA communities?
Yes
47.83%
Somewhat
20.29%
No
10.14%
Not sure
21.74%
How well equipped is your newsroom to cover MENA communities fairly and accurately?
Very well equipped
16.42%
Somewhat equipped
40.30%
Not very equipped
26.87%
Not at all equipped
16.42%
02 / Safety
Professional risk and self-censorship
The effects extend beyond assignment decisions. Respondents described restricted speech, self-censorship, threats, and increased harassment.
Do you feel safe expressing your personal views—on social media or internally—without fear of professional repercussions, audience backlash, or editorial pushback?
Yes, frequently
7.35%
Yes, occasionally
27.94%
No
64.71%
Have you had to self-censor your language or reporting because of fear of backlash?
Yes, frequently
32.35%
Yes, occasionally
42.65%
Rarely
14.71%
Never
10.29%
Have you received threats or felt unsafe in public or professional settings due to your reporting on MENA-related issues?
Yes
27.94%
No
39.71%
Not applicable
32.35%
Since October 7, have you experienced an increase in online harassment related to your reporting or identity?
Yes
27.94%
Somewhat
16.18%
No
55.88%
03 / Institutional Support
Limited support inside newsrooms
Respondents reported limited outreach, few concrete resources, underrepresentation in leadership, and low confidence in internal accountability.
Has your newsroom manager proactively checked in with you or others from similar backgrounds about your safety, mental health, or professional needs?
Yes
23.53%
No
55.88%
Not sure
20.59%
Has your newsroom offered mental health, legal, digital security, or physical safety resources related to this moment?
Yes
10.29%
No
54.41%
Not sure
35.29%
Do you believe that MENA journalists are underrepresented in leadership roles within your organization?
Yes
60.29%
No
13.24%
Not sure
26.47%
How confident are you that your organization would respond fairly if you raised concerns about bias, harassment, or unequal standards?
Very confident
8.82%
Somewhat
36.76%
Not very
29.41%
Not at all
25.00%
These are systemic patterns, not isolated experiences.
This survey makes visible what many MENA journalists have long felt in isolation: that their work is often scrutinized more harshly, their identities questioned as biases, and their professional risks compounded by online harassment and limited institutional support. Nearly half have been discouraged from covering issues central to their communities. Three in four report that “objectivity” is enforced unevenly depending on who they are. Most have had their impartiality questioned, and many feel compelled to self-censor.
Newsroom leadership has largely failed to meet the moment. Few managers proactively check in. Few outlets provide mental health or security resources. Confidence in internal accountability is low.
As an association, AMEJA takes these findings as both validation of what our members have voiced privately and as a call to collective action. Strengthening MENA journalists in U.S. media is our mission, and this moment demands redoubled effort.
Equity in editorial standards
Apply expectations of balance and neutrality consistently, without treating MENA journalists as suspect or unreliable.
Safety and support
Offer concrete resources, including mental health care, legal support, data privacy tools, and security training for journalists targeted for their reporting.
Invest in leadership pathways
Prioritize MENA representation in decision-making roles if newsroom culture and coverage are to change.
Build community solidarity
Support mentorship, connection, and advocacy so journalists do not face these pressures in isolation.
AMEJA is committed to carrying these findings into conversations with newsroom leaders, allies, and the wider public, to ensure that MENA journalists are empowered, protected, and heard.
If you are in a leadership position in your newsroom or media company, please reach out to the AMEJA Board to discuss the findings and pathways to improving the environment for your journalists.