"This ten-point checklist highlights key tips for journalists undertaking digital approaches to investigative journalism." (Introduction)
"Entre junio de 2021 y diciembre de 2022, 125 mujeres periodistas sufrieron agresiones en Ecuador, según datos de la Fundación Periodistas Sin Cadenas. La seguridad y la protección a su integridad física aún es una tarea lejana que no ha sido asumida por los medios de comunicación ni el Estado
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En nuestro país no existe una ruta clara de las acciones que emprende el Comité de Protección de Periodistas, creado en 2019. Ya sea por la ausencia de voluntad política u otros factores, este comité no se ha posicionado como un mecanismo de defensa confiable para los periodistas y comunicadores en el Ecuador.
Es urgente trabajar en protocolos de buenas prácticas y prevención de la violencia al interior de los medios de comunicación, pues los casos de violencia y acoso sexual son propiciados, en su mayoría, por los jefes y directivos. Estas guías deberían extenderse a los grupos diversos que también sufren discriminación y abuso laboral. En 2022, la Fundación Periodistas Sin Cadenas realizó una investigación pionera sobre el periodismo diverso. Se aplicó una encuesta a 53 colegas.El 50,9% ha sido discriminado en su lugar de trabajo. La mayoría de encuestados afirma que no existen espacios suficientes para los grupos diversos en las salas de redacción." (Conclusiones, página 32)
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"[...] En Ecuador no existe una cultura de seguridad institucional para ejercer el trabajo periodístico. El Estado no se responsabiliza, una muestra de ello es la falta de creación del Comité de Protección de Periodistas, que fue una de las recomendaciones que hizo el Equipo de Seguimiento Espec
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ial de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que visitó el país en 2019 para realizar un informe sobre el secuestro y asesinato de los periodistas de diario El Comercio y entregar recomendaciones a los gobiernos de Ecuador y Colombia.
La impunidad en cuanto a las agresiones a periodistas en Ecuador es evidente. Después de 5 años, el asesinato del equipo de El Comercio en la frontera norte sigue impune. El caso sigue en investigación previa, sin detenidos y con el cambio de fiscales en cuatro ocasiones. Respecto a los asesinatos de los tres periodistas en 2022, hay una sentencia condenatoria para los autores materiales del crimen del periodista Gerardo Delgado; sin embargo, aún se desconocen a los autores intelectuales y el motivo de su asesinato.
Toda cobertura requiere una evaluación de riesgos para identificar vulnerabilidades y fortalezas antes de reportear un tema. No se debe olvidar realizar un mapeo de actores para evaluar a qué amenazas puede exponerse la prensa. Es importante que los periodistas y los medios identifiquen y mitiguen los riesgos asociados al oficio antes de realizar las coberturas en terreno. Los periodistas no son intocables y Ecuador ya es escenario de amenazas graves y asesinatos. Habrá momentos en los que los periodistas deban desistir de hacer ciertas coberturas porque no se den las condiciones de seguridad necesarias. No hay que olvidar que ninguna cobertura es más importante que la vida.
Es necesario crear protocolos de seguridad en las redacciones y pensar estrategias para seguir haciendo periodismo en zonas complejas, apoyándose en el periodismo colaborativo y las alianzas periodísticas.
La salud mental y el autocuidado son fundamentales para sobrellevar la presión y el estrés que suponen las coberturas de riesgo. Evaluar el estado emocional antes, durante y después del trabajo es fundamental para mantener el equilibrio." (Conclusiones y recomendaciones)
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"Threats associated with the consumer Internet of Things (IoT) may particularly inhibit the work and wellbeing of journalists, especially because of the danger of technological surveillance and the imperative to protect confidential sources. These issues may have knock-on effects on societal stabili
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ty and democratic processes if press freedom is eroded. Still, journalists remain unaware of potential IoT threats, and so are unable to incorporate them into risk assessments or to advise their sources. This shows a clear gap in the literature, requiring immediate attention. This article therefore identifies and organises distinctive and novel threats to journalism from the consumer IoT. The article presents a novel conceptualisation of threats to the press in six categories: regulatory gaps, legal threats, profiling threats, tracking threats, data and device modification threats and networked device threats. Each of the threats in these categories includes a description and hypothetical consequences that include real-life ways in which IoT devices can be used to inhibit journalistic work, building on interdisciplinary literature analysis and expert interviews. In so doing, this article synthesises technical information about IoT device capabilities with human security and privacy requirements tailored to a specific at-risk population: journalists. It is therefore important for cyber science scholarship to address the contemporary and emerging risks associated with IoT devices to vulnerable groups such as journalists. This exploratory conceptualisation enables the evidence-based conceptual evolution of understandings of cyber security risks to journalists." (Abstract)
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"What are the challenges that Mexican women journalists face in a hostile environment for the press? Mexico is one of the deadliest countries in which to practice journalism. More than 160 reporters have been assassinated since 2000. Within this context, female journalists face a four-layered challe
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nge: firstly, to work in a country with a high level of anti-press violence; secondly, the state and situation of their gender in a country riddled with femicide; thirdly, their sources, colleagues, and bosses immersed in a patriarchal structure of naturalized misogyny; and fourthly, the state. This chapter examines and reveals, through in-depth, semi-structured interviews of women journalists from several parts of Mexico who cover the beat of hard news, the challenges they face when doing their work with various actors. This research aims to shed light into the world of local female journalists in Mexico that could mirror the situation of female journalists in the Global South." (Abstract)
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"Journalists in Pakistan are losing their lives during the course of their duty. This study identifies the factors and actors behind the killings of Pakistani journalists and the role of stakeholders and media owners in compromising journalists’ safety, under the lens of social responsibility theo
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ry, by unearthing the case study of slain journalist Arshad Sharif. This study looks into the complete picture of Pakistani journalists’ killings. In order to collect data, in-depth interviews of 15 seasoned journalists are conducted through snowball sampling and 10 recent tweets of Arshad Shairf has been examined by applying the framework of critical discourse analysis (CDA) to uncover the rhetoric. The findings show that the journalists in Pakistan are performing their jobs in grave situation and get exposed to life threats when they blur the line between journalism and politics. State and non-state actors, land mafias and criminal gangs threaten journalists. Stakeholders and media owners use media workers for their interests. The case of Arshad Sharif’s murder has raised questions on the safety of journalists and the journalistic ethics in Pakistan. It is recommended to revisit the freedom of expression and media code of ethics in the light of findings of this research." (Abstract)
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"This study appraises the mainstreaming and teaching of safety in journalism training institutions in Nigeria and interrogates the effectiveness of the safety measures available to safeguard the lives of journalists reporting from conflict areas in the North East geopolitical zone. In-depth intervie
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ws were conducted with 16 journalists representing a range of media organisations who had been reporting from the areas with the most volatile and prolonged conflicts. Mass communication curricula in universities and polytechnics across the region were also reviewed. The findings revealed that journalists in North East Nigeria are at high risk due to the absence of protective mechanisms and professional skills relating to safety. Journalists rely on their instincts and experience to manage risk, rendering them highly vulnerable in dangerous situations. These journalists endure multiple physical and psychological attacks from the security forces, insurgents and even community members that they cover. Recommendations reflective of best practice are offered regarding the mainstreaming of safety education in journalism training and the provision of safety mechanisms in order to reduce journalists’ physical harm and psychological trauma, increase their actual and perceived safety and security, boost their morale and improve the quality of their reporting." (Abstract)
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"This article analyses the dangers and threats faced by Syrian journalists covering the conflict since the pro-democracy protests erupted in March 2011. While most Western research on the Syrian Revolution has focused on the working difficulties faced by correspondents, parachutists or foreign freel
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ancers, this article scrutinizes the working conditions for Syrian content providers. Syrian journalists’ testimonials of fear and their perception of danger and vulnerability provide a humanistic lens not only on the scope of what revolution and war mean to many who have lived it and been transformed by it, but also on the reality of informing in dangerous contexts. The study contemplates the practitioners’ working risks and perceptions of fear and threats, as well as their personal security measurements. The characterization of fear during the militarization of the rebellion as a semi-normalized way of life, suggested by Pearlman’s article, ‘Narratives of fear in Syria’ (2016), allows the authors to place their study in a conceptual frame. The implementation of a survey answered by 82 Syrian journalists was complemented by semi-structured interviews with a selected group of 12 participants. In a context in which 86.6 percent of the respondents had colleagues who had died while working, the findings illustrate that Syrian reporters and media activists perceive their work as extremely dangerous. In the perception of fear, the adoption of personal safety measures by practitioners does not always contribute to decreasing it; the trauma experience can act both as a paralysing and empowering working factor." (Abstract)
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"Firstly, this chapter provides an overview of the generally dreadful state of press freedom worldwide, with online and physical attacks on journalists commonplace. In doing so, it surveys research data from leading international organisations advocating for journalism safety, which collectively ill
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ustrate a range of clear and present dangers to reporters such as murders with impunity, imprisonment and – disproportionately for women – online violence that could easily spill offline. Secondly, in order to assist journalism educators internationally to better prepare their students for the realities of this extremely dangerous world, it provides a platform for some of the foremost experts in the field of journalism safety to share their advice and recommended resources. The international mix of these experts is reflected in the combination of institutional or organisational affiliations: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN); iWatch Africa and Reach plc in the UK. Finally, in the context of their knowledgeable input, it turns its attention to recent developments in journalism education in the UK. It suggests that new opportunities to formulate and deliver safety and resilience training on courses accredited by the NCTJ could help to inspire and spread such training internationally." (Abstract)
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"This guide highlights digital security considerations, mitigation strategies, and resources specific to the Romani, or Roma, ethnic group. This guide is designed to be used by digital security specialists working with journalists from the Roma community or potentially with journalists whose colleag
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ues, sources, or other collaborators belong to this community." (Page 1)
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"This study was conducted to assess the risks journalists face while reporting in Somalia. It was guided by three specific objectives that included: evaluating the cases of physical attacks on journalists reporting in Somalia, analyzing the cases of arbitrary arrests and imprisonments of journalists
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recorded in Somalia and investigating the cases of journalists being killed in Somalia in three years between 2019 and 2021. The study was qualitative and used secondary data to explore the objectives. It analyzed data from five reports which had information collected between 2019- 2021 that included: The Somali Mechanism for Safety of Journalists (SMSJ) report 2021, The UNESCO observatory report on journalists killed 2021, The National Union of Somalia Journalists (NUSOJ) report of 2021, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) report of 2020/2021, and The Amnesty International Research report of 2020. Data was classified into three thematic areas according to the study objectives. The data was then uploaded into the coding sheet and analyzed. The study found out that, Media freedoms in Somalia is being suppressed by the Federal state and non-state actors. Evidence from the reports showed that, between 2019 and 2021, eight journalists have been killed, 66 journalists have been arbitrary arrested and 81 journalists have been physically attacked and assaulted. Additionally, The Somali federal and state governments targeted and raided media outlets considered disloyal to the regime and approximately 14 media outlets were struck by government officials and armed soldiers. The study recommends that, according to UN plan of Action on the safety of Journalists and the issue of impunity (2012), the Somali government needs to demonstrate its assurance to the protection and safety of journalists and media freedom by taking significant action to tackle the extensive impunity for crimes against the media, otherwise, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ACHPR having signed a memorandum of understanding with UNESCO to safeguard journalists should step in and manage the risks that journalists working in Somalia face daily." (Abstract)
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"Limited studies exist on the safety challenges that journalists face in reporting conflict related issues within their localities. This study extends literature in this direction by providing a model that explains the safety challenges that journalists faced in reporting the 2020 END SARS protests
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in Nigeria. The study is a survey of 470 journalists with questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. Results were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). It was found that legal limitations, lack of training on safety and absence of safety motivational measures constitute the safety challenges that journalists faced in reporting the ENDS SARS protests. This information could be beneficial for policy formulation and advocacy within the context of safety of journalists." (Abstract)
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"Attacks on journalists and the media in Brazil have a long history but have become even more problematic through the use of social media, particularly following the election of Jair Bolsonaro as president in 2019. In times of industry restructuring and coronavirus pandemic, the systematic attacks o
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n individual journalists and on the media by Bolsonaro and his associates are posing unprecedented challenges, and are part of a pattern of abuse to suppress media freedom and discredit journalists’ work. This article focuses upon journalists’ abilities to access different types of capital to anticipate, cope with, and create options to overcome perceived threats and generate positive outcomes. This study builds upon the works of Voss (Behemoth-A Journal on Civilisation 1 (3): 39–56, 2008), Obrist, Pfeiffer and Henley (Progress in Development Studies 10 (4): 283–293, 2010) and Hess’ (Communication Theory 23 (2): 112–130, 2013) “mediated social capital” to advance understanding of the nexus amongst risk, vulnerability and social resilience, and examines structural inequalities in and through the media. By employing a mixed-methods approach, we combine the results of a survey and in-depth interviews with high-profile figures of leading newspapers and professional bodies in the country. The findings open up possibilities on how news media’s “mediated social capital” might enhance women journalists’ capacity to move from vulnerability to social resilience, improving their safety." (Abstract)
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"In terms of connecting his life every human being needs a job. Human life is considered more prosperous when getting a decent job. Workers in carrying out their work in addition to getting wages, of course, need to get legal protection and work safety protection. There are many workers who work in
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dangerous areas, one of them is a journalist. Journalists in reporting for the sake of news that will be broadcast to the public or the audience, sometimes the coverage area is included in dangerous areas such as demonstrations or rallies. Demonstrations or rallies often end in chaos, in this case it is certain that many journalists from various media come to cover the demonstration. It is not uncommon for journalists to also get bad effects from such demonstrations such as accidents during demonstrations against journalists. In demonstrations the safety of journalists needs to be accounted for, because it is the journalists bet their lives for the sake of covering the news about the demonstration. Workers have the right to safety in their work area from the above problems in this study, the formulation of the problem can be raised, namely how is the form of occupational safety protection for journalists at the time of the demonstration? This study uses normative legal methods in which there is a lack of clarity on the regulation of occupational safety protection for journalists, especially when covering demonstrations. The purpose of this study is to know the form of occupational safety protection for journalists and of course provide full protection of Occupational Safety for journalists, especially when covering demonstrations. The solution that can be given is to clarify the regulations about who is responsible if journalists have an accident, especially when covering demonstrations." (Abstract)
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"The Afghan media landscape stands at a crossroads, navigating a landscape rife with challenges and uncertainties in the wake of the Taliban's resurgence. The post-Taliban era, marked by a thriving media sector with 160 television channels, 311 radio stations, 90 print newspapers, and 26 news agenci
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es, has witnessed a drastic transformation. The current media landscape, with 70 television channels, 211 radio stations, 11 print newspapers, and 9 news agencies, reflects a significant decline in numbers and diversity. Under the de facto rule of the Taliban, the media sector has encountered substantial constraints. Censorship and self-censorship have become rampant, with journalists and media outlets navigating the perilous territory of permissible content. Threats, intimidation, and violence against media professionals have created an atmosphere of fear, leading to an exodus of skilled journalists. Investigative journalism, once a cornerstone of accountability, has been stifled, and access to unbiased information has dwindled, leaving citizens ill-informed.
The closure of media outlets has far-reaching implications, including restricted information flow, suppressed free speech, and diminished content diversity. The narrative has further fragmented between Kabul and the provinces, where media freedom varies significantly. Female journalists remain conspicuously absent in many regions, underscoring the entrenched gender disparity in the field. International media outlets, under surveillance and restraints, grapple with maintaining their operations and integrity in an increasingly controlled environment. Social media, once a platform for open dialogue, faces censorship and restrictions, hampering the exchange of ideas. As Afghanistan's media landscape evolves, the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks has exacerbated challenges. The suspension of the Mass Media Law and the Access to Information Law during the transitional phase has left media professionals in a legal gray area. The need for inclusive consultations with media stakeholders to shape these laws cannot be overstated. In this complex milieu, it is evident that safeguarding the media's role as a communication bridge between the government and the people is paramount. Collaborative efforts between the Islamic Emirate, the international community, and media support organizations are essential to prevent the collapse of Afghanistan's media landscape." (Conclusion, pages 16-17)
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"This volume responds to the great need to rethink journalism from various perspectives including journalism training, research, the contents of the news media, language, media ethics, the safety of journalists and gender inequities in the news media." (Publisher description)
"Trends towards greater transparency of platforms, in the form of extending cooperation around data, offer benefit to the interests of all stakeholders. This policy brief considers the normative, institutional and technical mechanisms that support access to datasets that are not accessible generally
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but have public interest value. The analysis below maps the general trends and issues, then proceeds to assess the separate cases of journalists’ safety and media viability, and concludes with recommendations." (Abstract)
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"Journalists are increasingly attacked in response to their work yet they often lack the necessary support and training to protect themselves, their sources, and their communications. Despite this, there has been limited scholarly attention that addresses how journalism schools approach digital secu
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rity education. This paper draws from an analysis of 106 US programs and 23 semi-structured interviews with journalism students and professors to examine how the next generation of journalists learn about digital security practices. Our findings show that most programs (88.7%) don’t offer formal digital security programming and that digital security skills are often deprioritized in favor of skills seen as more significant contributors to post-graduate hiring—a key priority of journalism programs. Additional barriers include a lack of space and time in existing curricula for added digital security coursework, a perception that students are not interested, and few professors with related knowledge. When security education is introduced, it’s done so in often informal and ad-hoc ways, largely led by “security champions,” both within and outside of journalism, who advocate for its legitimacy. These findings have important implications for journalism education and journalists’ capacity to carry out their work amidst a deteriorating safety environment in the United States." (Abstract)
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"The freedom of media and the safety of journalists are crucial elements in democratic societies. Despite global efforts to increase the safety of journalists, the profession remains plagued by perilous working conditions. With increasing digital threats to journalists' security and ability to work,
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blockchain technology might offer practical solutions to counteract specific vulnerabilities in the digital realm. This exploratory paper investigates the possible scopes of blockchain technology applications in improving the digital safety of journalists. With a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with investigative journalists and blockchain experts, the study examines the threats journalists face in the digital realm and aims to understand the current and future opportunities and challenges of using blockchain technology for the digital safety of journalists. The results suggest that blockchain technology might already aid in protecting identities and communications, logging security breaches, and enabling decentralized data storage, among others. However, significant challenges exist in various dimensions, such as technical (e.g., scalability), political (e.g., lack of clear regulations), and social (e.g., acceptance). More research is needed to understand the full potential of blockchain technology in improving the digital safety of journalists and the steps and challenges ahead for a smooth adoption of this technology." (Abstract)
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