Ahead of a contentious election cycle, the International Women’s Media Foundation’s “Newsroom Safety Across America” initiative is bringing groundbreaking journalism safety training to local newsrooms across the United States. Starting in key swing states likely to receive heightened attention in 2024, trainings will include one- or two-day workshops focused on risk assessment, personal security, legal protection, mental health care, and more.
This initiative is part of the IWMF’s multi-year effort to bolster newsrooms’ duty of care to their journalists’ safety. Threats against journalists are proliferating in the U.S.: in 2023, 30 journalists were assaulted in the line of work, and eight were arrested. The country currently ranks 45th on the World Press Freedom Index, down from 32nd just a decade ago.
Newsroom Safety Across America, generously supported by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, will equip newsrooms to prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats against their employees and freelancers. Trainings are currently set to take place in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with plans to add additional states throughout the year. To express interest in bringing a workshop to your newsroom or news organization, please fill out the interest form below.
Interest Form >>
The IWMF is also partnering with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which will provide journalists and newsrooms with legal training and resources, including through its Local Legal Initiative and ProJourn programs.
Training Applications
Arizona | February 12-13
Georgia | February 26-27
“Our country cannot survive without the presence of quality local news – and local news cannot survive without its journalists. Ahead of what promises to be a particularly tenuous year, I’m proud to back this massive effort by the IWMF to keep local journalists safe across the U.S.”
Craig Newmark Founder, Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Thank you to our collaborators!
To connect with local newsrooms, the IWMF is teaming up with news organizations including the Institute for Nonprofit News, Spotlight PA and Georgia News Collaborative. To learn how your organization can get involved in this effort, please contact IWMF Director of Programs Juanita Islas at jislas@iwmf.org.
