Basic preparedness
Basic bulleted advice on assignment preparation – Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Information on solo reporting and the necessary preparations needed for before and during fieldwork.
Emergencies Resource Centre – CPJ. This page shares critical resources to help journalists prepare for an assignment or respond to an emergency.
Security Assessment form – CPJ. A checklist to aid in the knowledge and preparation of assessing the security of a situation.
Guide to completing a risk assessment and security protocol – Rory Peck Trust (PDF).
Risk assessment and security protocol template – Rory Peck Trust (Word document).
Editors’ Checklist – CPJ. A checklist enables commissioners and editors to understand how well prepared journalists and other media workers are as they cover US protests over police violence.
Video for Change Impact Toolkit – EngageMedia, in partnership with Video4Change Network. This toolkit is designed for documentary or journalist video-makers, that are using or thinking about using video to engage their audience.
List of insurance providers for journalists – Details of insurance policy recommendations for journalists, local media, RSF and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) by ACOS Alliance (A Culture Of Safety Alliance).
Exiled Media Toolkit – International Journalists’ Network (IJNet). In partnership with the Network of Exiles Media Outlets (NEMO), this toolkit provides advice for exiled media on how to reestablish themselves, remain relevant for their readership, fundraise and maintain financial stability, create and maintain a network, and provide mental health support for exiled journalists.
Digital security
Digital Safety Kit – CPJ.
Security in-a-Box – Front Line Defenders. A guide to digital security for activists and human rights defenders.
The WIRED Guide to Digital Security – WIRED. A guide to improve online security posture based on different levels of risks.
Digital Security Helpline – Access Now. A free-of-charge 24/7 resource that offers real-time, direct technical assistance, and advice to media organisations and journalists
Helpdesk – Security Matters. They provide digital security incident support and protection for the communities at risk in Southeast Asia.
Digital security training – Totem Project. Totem is an online platform that helps journalists use digital security and privacy tools and tactics more effectively in their work.
Guide for digital security training – Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF). A guide providing news organisations, freelance, and citizen journalists with tools and best practices related to digital security.
Digital Hygiene 101 – EngageMedia. A short guide on how to put into practice the basics of digital safety and security.
Preserving Truth to Power, a guide by OpenArchive which provides ethical and safety tips for citizen reporters and human rights defenders storing sensitive mobile media.
Surveillance Self-Defense: Tips, Tools and How-tos for Safer Online Communications – Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). It provides up-to-date guidance on basic digital security techniques, tools, and further learning in multiple languages.
Online harassment
OnTheLine – International Press Institute (IPI). A programme building measures and monitoring online harassment of journalists.
Online harassment – Troll Busters. Infographic showing how to deal with website attacks, being impersonated or doxed, or what to do if threats escalate.
Online harassment – Pen America. A field manual on the preparation, response, legal and support systems that are useful to journalists.
Online harassment – CPJ. Specific to psychological safety and mental health, this article outlines pre-emptive and immediate steps on how to protect yourself.
Dealing with trolls – The Guardian. A step-by-step guide on how to deal with internet attackers.
Trolling and doxing – The Rory Peck Trust.
Online trolls shouldn’t be allowed to intimidate journalists – The Conversation. Statistics of online harassment and journalists and how they specifically target as well as ways to deal with them.
Online violence towards women – International Journalists’ Network (IJNet).
Silence and Omissions – The Journalism Initiative on Gender-based Violence (JiG). A media guide for covering gender-based violence, developed by the JiG from the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.
Physical safety
Basic First Aid Youtube Videos – CPJ. A series of first aid videos aimed at journalists facing serious injuries and situations.
Protecting Sources – CPJ（”Assessing and Responding to Risk”, Chapter 2). Useful article on protecting resources and information when covering topics such as armed conflict and national security.
Sexual Violence – CPJ （”Assessing and Responding to Risk”, Chapter 4). First-hand advice on the precautions to take to avoid sexual violence in a series of situations.
Captive Situations – CPJ (“Assessing and responding to risk”, Chapter 5). A description of possible captive situations and actions to take to protect yourself.
Safety Advisory: Covering US protests over police violence – CPJ.
Know Your Rights: Workplace Sexual Harassment – American Association of University Women (AAUW). Information on workplace rights in Q&A format.
What is sexual harassment? – New York Times. An article outlining what sexual harassment is and what can be done within the workplace to combat and prevent it.
Legal advice
Shield laws – Page about the shield laws that protect journalists but not citizen journalists.
International humanitarian law – International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A set of answers to questions asked about journalists protection by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Journalists – Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI). Statements on the rights of journalists.
Mental health
Resources for Well-Being and Stress Management – Front Line Defenders.
Psychological First Aid – Totem Project. A course to help those who need psychological support and to know what tools to use to safeguard one’s own mental health.
A Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence – International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). A guide touching upon mental health designed by professionals specialising in trauma and the media.
Working with Traumatic Imagery – The DART Center for Journalism & Trauma.
FCC HK’s video with Paul Yip on mental health discusses the sensitivities when writing about suicide. This can be found in section four of the document.
Trauma Reporting: A Journalist’s Guide to Covering Sensitive Stories – Jo Healey. Guide to interviewing people who have undergone trauma.
Coping With Prison – dedicated collective. This website provides a collection of resources for people who are preparing to go to prison, and for their families, lawyers, and supporters.
Suicide reporting for media professionals – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention. A guide on how suicides have been reported in Hong Kong in the past. Outlines how suicide media can be reported in a more sensitive manner.
Fellowship opportunities
Journalists in Distress Network – CPJ. Resources for journalists who have received serious threats or are in distress in relation to their work, and may need emergency relocation.
The IFJ Safety Fund – International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). This fund offers financial assistance in a range of emergency cases such as threats, violence and threats thereof, prosecution, settlement in exile, and illness.