Director of Research Richard Fletcher, named Deputy Director of the Reuters Institute

Richard Fletcher has been named Deputy Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in addition to continuing in his role as Director of Research. He will take on an expanded role in institute strategy and management as part of the senior management team and deputise for Director Mitali Mukherjee.

His expanded role comes as the institute continues to grow across its journalist and leadership programmes, and across its original reporting and academic research.

Dr Fletcher is an award-winning academic and has served as Director of Research for several years. He’s the lead researcher and one of the co-authors of the Digital News Report, and has authored dozens of academic papers with a focus on journalism and audience research. In addition to frequent presentations of research to many different news organisations, he has worked on reports for the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. He has worked at the Institute for more than 10 years.

Under Dr. Fletcher’s leadership, the Institute’s research team has undertaken work on generative AI, trust in news, climate change news audiences, and the working conditions of UK journalists.

Responding to the appointment, Dr Fletcher said: “I am very pleased to take on the additional role of Deputy Director alongside my role as Director of Research. It will be an honour to continue to work with Mitali Mukherjee and the rest of my fantastic colleagues at the Institute on exploring the future of journalism worldwide through debate, engagement, and research”.

Mitali Mukherjee, Director of the Reuters Institute, said “Richard has led some of our most important research work at the Reuters Institute. He brings to the role formidable skills as an academic empirical researcher. He is a team leader with significant experience in working with our global partners and someone I believe has a deep understanding of journalism and its most pressing issues. Richard has been a valued and committed colleague and I am so glad he has accepted this new expanded role. I look forward to working more closely with him to achieve the Institute’s goals and priorities.”