The IWMF offers holistic physical and digital safety support to women and nonbinary journalists around the world through emergency aid, training, partnerships, coalition building and research. Our wrap-around approach is uniquely identity-centric, taking into account the ways gender, race, sexual orientation, location, resources and other intersections impact a journalist’s ability to work safely. Through this work, we empower journalists and newsrooms to prepare for, respond to, and recover from work-related trauma.

Below, learn more about our safety opportunities and resources.

Hostile Environment and First Aid Training

Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT):

Since 2014, the IWMF has provided more than 800 journalists with Hostile Environment First Aid Trainings across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Southeast Asia and Lebanon. In-person HEFAT trainings typically last four days, with at least 50 percent of the course focused on training through practical, realistic scenarios. Please note our offerings change year-by-year, and the IWMF customizes the safety training to the regional context.

To learn more, watch these videos on our Mexico City and US HEFATs.

 Webinars and other physical safety resources

• MOOC: “How to report safely: Strategies for women journalists and their allies” by the International Women’s Media Foundation and UNESCO, organized by the Knight Center for Journalism
• Webinar: “Strategies for Safely Covering Civil Unrest” led by Jeff Belzil, IWMF director of security, and Corinne Chin, director of talent at the AP
• Webinar: “First Aid in the Field: Skills for Journalists Covering Protests” led by Cath Mossom, hosted by the IWMF
• Webinar: “Risk Assessment and Planning for Student Journalists” by the IWMF

News Safety Cohort

Newsrooms have a duty of care to support their journalists’ holistic safety needs – not only their physical safety on the ground, but their digital safety and mental health as well. Since 2020 we’ve been working full force to change the culture around online violence, asserting that it is real violence with real-world consequences for journalists’ wellbeing as well as press freedom at large.

Building on the IWMF’s unique training model, our News Safety Cohort connects media organizations around the world to promote a culture of safety. The News Safety Cohort benefits from customized safety trainings with an identity lens and support with developing newsroom safety protocols, as well as peer learning with newsrooms worldwide and ongoing engagement opportunities to share lessons learned and best practices with the journalism community.

IWMF Online Abuse Guides

A Guide to Protecting Newsrooms and Journalists Against Online Abuse by the International Women’s Media Foundation

• Template: Staff Survey of Online Violence
• Template: Checklist for Protecting Staff Data
• Template: Online Violence Risk Assessment
• Template: Reporting and Escalation Policy
• Template: Statement of Support and Clarification
• Template: FAQ
• Template: Online Violence Guide for the Newsroom

A Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence by the International Women’s Media Foundation (available in English and Farsi)

Webinars and other online abuse courses

Know Your Trolls: This course is designed to help journalists identify the abuse they are receiving online and who may be behind it as well as offer some key strategies that may help journalists to be better prepared.

• Know Your Trolls
• Troles y acosadores
• Qui sont vos trolls ?
• مواجهة التحرّش على الانترنت
• Познакомьтесь с троллями

Keep it Private: The goal of this course is to get journalists thinking about privacy and the information they share online. Journalists face the difficult task of needing to have an online presence while trying to protect themselves from being harassed and attacked online. This course will provide them with practical tips on how to better protect themselves and their families

• Keep it Private
• Cuida tu privacidad
• Protège ta vie privée !
• خصوصيّتك في الحيّز الافتراضي

MOOC: “Strategies for Journalists Defense” hosted by the Knight Center for Journalism by the International Women’s Media Foundation

Coalition Against Online Violence and the Online Violence Response Hub

The IWMF founded the Coalition Against Online Violence, a collection of global organizations working to find better solutions for women journalists facing online abuse, harassment and other forms of digital attacks.

The Online Violence Response Hub is a resource center with over 180 safety resources where women journalists can find the latest information on online abuse.

• Sign up for the CAOV monthly newsletter here.
• If you are an organization interested in joining the CAOV, please complete this form.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The IWMF has partnered with a variety of organizations to enhance media safety, including:

• A program with National Democratic Institute to combat violence against women in politics and the media in Mexico, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Liberia.
• An Inclusive Guide to Online Safety with the American Press Institute.
• Digital Safety Snacks with PEN America and ONA
• Providing security consultations to reporters in danger throughout Latin America with Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) and Vinland Solutions.

Emergency Assistance

• International Women’s Media Foundation Emergency Funds (includes therapy grants)
  • Black Journalist Therapy Relief Fund
• The IWMF offers journalists the opportunity to sign up for free one-on-one safety consultations
• The Coalition Against Online Violence emergency assistance