Physical Safety

Safety Guide for Journalists on the Frontline: Recommendations for Protection Against Drones

Drones — unmanned aerial vehicles (or UAVs) piloted in real time by the Kremlin’s armed forces — have become one of the main threats facing journalists covering Russia’s war in Ukraine, making some areas along the front line almost inaccessible. In partnership with the Kherson-based foundation “Union,” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published a practical guide for news professionals working near the front lines to help them better anticipate security risks. Available in English and Ukrainian, the guide focuses on small drones operated by pilots in real time, often using virtual reality headsets, such as first-person view (FPV) devices.

Protection against Russian kamikaze drones: RSF publishes a guide for journalists working in Ukrainersf.org

Safety guide for journalists: a handbook for reporters in high-risk environments

Reporters Without Borders together with UNESCO have published a survival kit for journalists working in high-risk situations.

Safety guide for journalists_ a handbook for reporters in high-risk environments - UNESCO Digital Library.pdf

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The handbook is also available in Arabic, Burmese French, Khmer, Spanish, and Ukrainian.

Essential Steps for Journalists in Emergency Situations (GIJN)

Journalists receiving threats may have to flee their homes in a matter of a few hours. Conflicts, though, are often foreseeable and that’s why those in fragile regions should have an exit plan in place and crucial documents ready to go. These documents will not just help reporters with travel, when needed, but may also help them to move to a safer region or country. The Global Investigative Journalism Network has listed what documents to gather as well as which organizations support journalists with relocation.

Essential Steps for Journalists in Emergency SituationsGlobal Investigative Journalism Network

Investigating War Crimes: Physical and Digital Security

GIJN’s comprehensive Reporter’s Guide to Investigating War Crimes includes expert advice from more than two dozen specialists and journalists, covering everything from the legal aspects of war to physical and digital security best practices.

Investigating War Crimes: Physical and Digital SecurityGlobal Investigative Journalism Network

IREX - SAFE

IREX’s flagship program Securing Access to Free Expression (SAFE) enables media practitioners and social communicators to work as safely as possible in closed and closing spaces.

SAFE equips individuals with the means to resiliently continue their important work, and manage—as well as mitigate—the risks and threats they face in their day-to-day work. SAFE addresses safety through the unique lens of digital identity, physical awareness, and psychosocial care by delivering trainings in five regions spanning the globe.

https://www.irex.org/resource/safe-basic-training-curriculum-media-practitioners-and-social-communicatorswww.irex.org

Physical Safety: War Reporting

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has compiled recommendations to mitigate risks when reporting from the front lines of a conflict. "All war correspondents should have hostile environment training, up-to-date medical training, and the correct safety equipment before going on assignment in a conflict zone."

Physical Safety: War Reporting - Committee to Protect JournalistsCommittee to Protect Journalists

Arrest and Detention

"Covering certain stories–such as human rights abuses, corruption, or civil unrest–can place you at a higher risk of arrest and detention, particularly in countries with authoritarian regimes or with a heavy militarized and police presence."

Read more about CPJ's safety advice in case of arrest or detention.

Physical and Digital Safety: Arrest and detention - Committee to Protect JournalistsCommittee to Protect Journalists

Telegram course: Reacting to a chemical attack

Thomson Foundation has created a unique easy to access course for local journalists available via the encrypted messaging service Telegram with the help of chemical and biological weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.

‘Reacting to a chemical attack’ is designed to take just 15 minutes or less on a smartphone. The course will guide users on the types of chemical and biological weapons that have been used in recent years and how to recognise them. Typical symptoms are listed alongside what to do in the event of a chemical attack.

The course is designed for local journalists in particular as they may not have access to the safety experts and kit (such as gas masks) that are available to staff working for large international news organisations.

The course is available only on smartphones via Telegram. It is available in both Ukrainian and English.

Ukrainian version:

In the Telegram app, search: TFT01uk_bot

Or phone click: t.me/TFT01uk_bot (Telegram account required)

English version:

In the Telegram app, search: TFT01en_bot

Or phone click: t.me/TFT01en_bot (Telegram account required)

Telegram course: Reacting to a chemical attackThomson Foundation