As the 2020 election and ongoing protests brought political tension in the U.S. to new heights, the IWMF’s sponsored session at #ONA20 offered practical safety and trauma advice for journalists on the ground in potentially hostile environments.
The first portion of the session addressed considerations for editors assigning journalists to cover these events, led by Eliot Stempf, head of high risk at Buzzfeed. Next, Ali Baskerville from ROAAAR offered situational awareness tips for journos covering these events on the ground. Lastly, Dr. Emily Sachs discussed trauma and offered tips for journalists and editors on how to take care of themselves and their teams after covering these events. Hannah Allam, IWMF board member and NPR correspondent, moderated the session.