What does this beat cover?
Extremism and cult reporting spans two related but distinct fields: far-right and other violent-extremist political movements, and high-control new religious movements (often colloquially called “cults”). Both require specialist research support, careful handling of vulnerable interviewees, and heightened attention to the reporter’s own physical and digital security. Both are also areas where getting the framing wrong — either sensationalising or minimising — has real consequences for public understanding and for the safety of people connected to these groups.
UK-specific research infrastructure for this beat is unusually strong. HOPE Not Hate and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD Global) both publish detailed, regularly updated research on far-right and extremist movements active in the UK. INFORM provides an equivalent independent, academically-grounded resource for new religious movements and high-control groups, distinguishing genuinely harmful groups from merely unconventional ones.
This beat also intersects heavily with the ethics of interviewing vulnerable and traumatised sources, since former members of both extremist movements and high-control groups frequently carry significant psychological harm from their experiences and may face ongoing risk from the group itself.
Why this beat matters
- 1Far-right extremism and radicalisation are recognised national security concerns, tracked by HM Government through the Prevent programme and by independent researchers.
- 2High-control groups can cause serious psychological, financial, and sometimes physical harm to members and their families, often hidden from public view until a member leaves.
- 3Inaccurate or sensationalised coverage of either extremism or new religious movements can cause real harm — stigmatising unrelated communities, or discouraging genuine victims from coming forward.
- 4Specialist, well-sourced reporting on extremist movements provides an early warning function that supports both public understanding and, where relevant, safeguarding and policy responses.
- 5Former members of high-control groups are frequently a uniquely valuable and vulnerable source category requiring particular editorial care.
Core legal and ethical risks
IPSO Clause 12 — Discrimination
Reporting on an individual extremist or group must not become a vehicle for prejudicial or pejorative reference to an unrelated ethnic or religious group. Accurately quoting a group's own stated, explicitly discriminatory ideology is not itself a breach — the clause concerns the publication's own framing and language choices.
Terrorism Act 2000 material-support provisions
Sections of the Terrorism Act 2000 create offences around publishing material that could be construed as encouraging or glorifying terrorism, or providing material support to a proscribed organisation. Reporting on the activities and ideology of a group is distinct from material support, but journalists should seek legal advice before publishing content directly sourced from a proscribed organisation.
Safeguarding former members
Former members of high-control groups may be dealing with significant trauma, family estrangement, and risk of retaliation from the group. Interviews should be conducted with appropriate pacing, clear agreement on what will be published, and signposting to specialist support rather than informal counselling by the journalist.
Defamation risk in naming individuals
Describing a named individual as an "extremist," a "cult leader," or a member of a specific banned organisation carries serious defamation risk unless the claim is well-evidenced and defensible. Distinguish clearly between reporting a group's proscribed status (a matter of public record) and characterising an individual's personal culpability.
Reporter personal security
Far-right groups in particular have a documented history of targeting journalists who cover them, including doxxing and harassment. The NUJ publishes specific safety guidance for reporters covering extremism, protests, and hostile subjects.
See also: Defamation risk checklist | Reporting Trauma | Ethics hub
Specialist UK research bodies
Safeguards for interviewing former members
- Let the interviewee choose the time, location, and pace of the conversation — do not press for a single long interview if they need to break it into stages.
- Be explicit and specific about what will be published, in what form, and whether anonymity is available before the interview begins.
- Recognise that estrangement from family members still inside a group is a common and painful consequence of leaving — avoid framing questions that assume a clean break was simple or complete.
- Signpost specialist support organisations (such as those working with cult-affected families) rather than acting as an informal counsellor.
- Be alert to the possibility of ongoing contact, pressure, or retaliation from the group, and discuss safety precautions with the interviewee if relevant.
- Corroborate specific factual claims about the group's practices with other former members or documentary evidence where possible, since individual recollection can be affected by trauma and time.
Reporter security checklist
- I use professional, not personal, social media and email accounts when engaging publicly with extremist subjects or groups.
- I have reviewed my personal digital footprint for information (home address, family details, daily routine) that could be used to locate or target me.
- A colleague or editor knows my schedule and location when covering events such as marches, rallies, or in-person meetings with sources connected to extremist or high-control groups.
- I have read the NUJ's safety guidance for reporters covering extremism and hostile subjects.
- I have a plan for responding to online harassment or doxxing if it occurs, including who at my organisation to notify.
- I have considered whether this specific story requires additional legal review before publication, given the material-support provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Interview question bank
For Extremism and radicalisation researchers
- How does this movement's current activity compare to what you've tracked historically?
- What recruitment or messaging tactics are you seeing this group use online?
- Is there evidence of coordination with other groups, domestically or internationally?
- What signs indicate a shift from rhetoric toward operational risk?
For Former group members (with appropriate care)
- What first drew you to the group, and what kept you involved?
- What would you want someone considering joining a similar group to know?
- Is there anything about your experience you would prefer not to be published?
- What support, if any, have you found helpful since leaving?
For INFORM / academic specialists on new religious movements
- What distinguishes a high-control or harmful group from an unconventional but non-abusive one?
- What patterns of harm does the research literature associate with groups of this type?
- How reliable is a single former member's account, and what corroboration would you recommend?
Jargon glossary
Story ideas and angles
- Cross-reference HOPE Not Hate's latest State of Hate report against activity you can independently verify in your own region.
- Investigate how a specific high-control group operating in the UK recruits online, using INFORM's published research as methodological grounding.
- FOI your local authority or police force for data on Prevent referrals in your area, and seek independent context on what the figures do and do not show.
- Profile a support organisation working with people who have left high-control groups, focusing on the practical challenges of reintegration.
- Examine how online platforms are used for recruitment or coordination by extremist groups active in the UK, drawing on ISD Global's published methodology.
- Investigate the financial structures behind a specific group — membership fees, donations, property ownership — using Charity Commission and Companies House records where applicable.
Recommended tools
Frequently asked questions
What is INFORM and how does it help journalists covering new religious movements?
Do I need special safeguards when interviewing former cult or high-control group members?
What personal security risks does far-right extremism reporting carry, and how do I manage them?
How does IPSO Clause 12 apply to extremism reporting?
What is the Prevent Duty and how does it affect reporting on extremism?
Related guides
Primary sources
- HOPE Not Hate— HOPE Not Hate
- Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD Global)— ISD Global
- INFORM — Information Network Focus on Religious Movements— INFORM
- Prevent Duty Guidance— HM Government
- NUJ Safety Guidance for Journalists— National Union of Journalists