Investigative Journalism: Safety and Security for Asian Journalists

Co-sponsored by the Global Investigative Journalism Network, the Source Protection Programme (a joint initiative by The Centre for Investigative Journalism and The Freedom of the Press Foundation), and the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas (JNI).

Journalists are under attack, facing alarming levels of harassment, surveillance, legal persecution, and violence. At the same time, they are trying to keep themselves, their colleagues, and their sources safe. The work of journalists, always risky, is particularly exposed in this age of digital spyware and spreading autocracy. What journalists need is more training in day-to-day protection in the cities, on watchdog beats, and during investigations. Journalists need to know when they are being surveilled and targeted. Journalists need to be safe.

GIJN has partnered with the Centre for Investigative Journalism, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and the Judith Nielson Institute to offer a unique safety and security training program specifically tailored for investigative journalists and others in watchdog newsrooms. It will be delivered online through hands-on practical training sessions with some of the world’s leading journalism safety trainers.

It is the second six-part Safety and Security course GIJN has offered and this one is focused on the Asia-Pacific region though those in other time zones who can make themselves available at the specified training time is welcome to apply.

It is free, part-time, and limited to 50 participants.

Investigative Journalism: Safety and Security will take place each Tuesday for six consecutive weeks, starting on February 14, 2023. The course will be offered at 9am Singapore Time (SGT), with 50 participants. Please check your local time using this link.

If granted a place on the course, the applicants will commit to complete the Journalism Security Assessment Tool, designed by GIJN and the Ford Foundation, before the start of the course (takes about 1 hour) and attend all six sessions of the programme in full. The estimated time required is about 2.5 hours a week. Proficient English language skills are required.

There are 50 places on the course. Priority will be given to people within journalism organizations who have responsibility for the safety and security of colleagues – so that the training can be shared and implemented organizationally. There will also be places for individual watchdog journalists. In addition, selection will be based on the urgency of need, the quality of the application, and the level of work submitted. Applications are encouraged from journalists in Asia-Pacific. Successful applicants will be contacted in late December. Unfortunately, due to capacity, GIJN will only be in touch with applicants who have been selected for the course.

Deadline: December 11 at midnight Singapore Time (SGT).

To learn more and apply, please click here.