Journalist Safety

WAN-IFRA is committed to working with journalists, editors, newsrooms and media organisations across the globe to improve the physical safety, digital security, mental health and well-being of media professionals. Our work extends to members and non-members alike and includes physical safety training courses, online certified training opportunities, workshops, seminars and key resources to better prepare newsrooms, managers and individual journalists for the risks involved in producing the news.

by Andrew Heslop andrew.heslop@wan-ifra.org | February 6, 2022

Through our externally funded media support programmes, WAN-IFRA directly engages with a network of media partners in 20+ countries to facilitate bespoke, locally-driven solutions to safety concerns and media freedom challenges. Our network of Media Freedom Committees actively contributes to the design and implementation of safety trainings to ensure maximum relevance and provide unprecedented access for local journalists.

Together with our professional training partners and through collaboration with the ACOS (A Culture of Safety) Alliance and the international civil society coalition on the Safety of Journalists, WAN-IFRA actively contributes to the global discourse to better protect journalists wherever they work.

WAN-IFRA is also committed to supporting the implementation of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

See below for more information on our range of safety initiatives.


Certified Journalist Safety Training Course (Online Version)

A self-paced certified safety training course for journalists to be completed online over a three-week period.

Delivered by our expert trainers from Key Objectives, the course has been developed by WAN-IFRA and the ACOS Alliance to respond to the basic safety needs of journalists anywhere in the world.

It is led in conjunction with WAN-IFRA’s local Media Freedom Committees.

Each course offers bursaries to 20 participants who gain a better understanding of the skills needed to keep safe on the job. Each course is divided into three modules:

  • Week 1. Planning and Preparation
  • Week 2: Working in Challenging Environments
  • Week 3: First Aid and Emotional Well-being

Each module is followed by an interactive live webinar including context-specific scenario exercises to address questions and consolidate the learning objectives. 

The course also includes: 

  • Virtual classroom instructional presentations and demonstrations 
  • Video clips and imagery 
  • Online quizzes 
  • Information sheets and reference guides
  • Reference links to useful and informative resources
  • Three interactive instructional live webinar sessions
  • Technical support and outreach to trainers for the duration of the course 

The topics are delivered by expert instructors with significant on-the-ground experience. Thanks to the input of WAN-IFRA’s local Media Freedom Committees, the content of each course is tailored to the specific safety challenges present in each country, ensuring the relevance of the training for the selected participants.

In order to receive certification, it is compulsory for participants to fully complete all parts of the course and attend the live webinars.

New opportunities to apply coming soon.


#SaferMedia programme: News Organisation Safety Assessments

The key to effectively dealing with any crisis is good preparation. When it comes to keeping journalists safe, nothing is closer to the truth. The WAN-IFRA #SaferMedia project guides media partners through all the aspects of safety worth considering for their newsrooms and their journalists. 

We engage respected regional and international safety experts to work with your newsroom to develop and instil safety procedures and daily practices that have an impact.

The aim is to closely examine the skills and resources media organisations already possess and to complement these with a range of targeted and individualised support to encourage media companies to think – and act – safety first.

With our expert partners at SEPAR International, WAN-IFRA has developed a comprehensive organisational safety audit that we are currently conducting with media partners across Africa. Learning more about current capacities and existing approaches to safety and security allows us to tailor effective, meaningful and relevant support across HR, newsroom, editorial and business teams, as well as building and digital assets.


Safety trainings 2021-2022:

AFRICA
BotswanaCertified Safety TrainingApril2021
Digital Safety TrainingJune2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingNovember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
KenyaDigital Safety TrainingJuly2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingNovember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
MalawiDigital Safety TrainingJune2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingDecember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
RwandaDigital Safety TrainingJune2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingSeptember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
SomaliaToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
South SudanToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
South AfricaCertified Safety TrainingAugust2021
TanzaniaDigital Safety TrainingJuly2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingNovember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
UgandaCertified Safety Training (3)April and May2021
Digital Safety TrainingJune2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingNovember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
ZambiaCertified Safety Training (2)April and May2021
Digital Safety TrainingJune2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingNovember2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
ZimbabweDigital Safety TrainingJune2021
LH (Online Harassment Training)September2021
Online Harassment TrainingOctober2021
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
SOUTH EAST ASIA
IndonesiaCertified Safety TrainingMay2022
Digital Safety TrainingMarch2022
Online Harassment TrainingMarch2022
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
The PhilippinesCertified Safety Training MindanaoJuly2021
Certified Safety TrainingMarch2022
Digital Safety TrainingMarch2022
Online Harassment TrainingMarch2022
ToT on Digital Safety and Online HarassmentAugust2022
MyanmarOnline HEFAT Training (2)August and October2021
Digital Safety TrainingMarch2022
Online Harassment TrainingMarch2022
VietnamDigital Safety TrainingMarch2022
Online Harassment TrainingMarch2022

 


Feedback – Certified online training:

  • 100% of respondents have applied the skills acquired during the certified safety training 
  • 100% would recommend the course to their colleagues

“During the chaotic Matungu by-election, we found ourselves in the middle of ugly scenes but I put into action all skills learned to protect myself and my colleagues.”
Participant, Kenya, November 2020

“I have shared some of the knowledge I found very useful in small gatherings of the women photographers’ community here in Indonesia, and am happy to let you know others have found it useful as well!”
Participant, Indonesia, September 2020

“I am very grateful as the training has helped me gain back my self-esteem. In 2017 I was hurt while on duty, and as I had no safety training I really suffered and developed fear when covering stories related to elections and protest. After this training, I have been able to cover five demonstrations and two violent elections. Thanks for helping me realise how I can have the story and at the same time be safe and help people near me to be safe too.”
Participant, Kenya, November 2020


CONTACT INFORMATION

Andrew Heslop

Executive Director – Press Freedom, WAN-IFRA

Paris, France

andrew.heslop@wan-ifra.org