Behind the Headlines – How UK Broadcasters Report the World

The world is going through a period of rapid and intense geopolitical change, with shifting power dynamics having profound consequences for communities in the UK and around the world. In this context, how effectively are UK broadcasters covering and contextualising international events for their audiences?

In this report, we sought to answer this question by analysing leading UK broadcasters’ international news coverage on their flagship television news programmes, bulletins, social media feeds, and dedicated apps. Data collection took place across two non-consecutive weeks in January and February 2026. The findings are compared with our previous studies from 2009 and 2016 – and an earlier study, which dates back to 1975.