Safely covering US elections - Committee to Protect Journalists

Journalists covering U.S. elections should consider the dangers they may face while on assignment and mitigate those risks. Check out CPJ’s 2024 US election safety kit.

Explore the journalist safety kit

The 2024 United States presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, amid an increasingly polarized political climate. Coupled with a high level of distrust in the media, journalists are likely to face significant security challenges surrounding election day. The guide below is designed to help newsrooms and journalists think about and manage physical and digital risk when it comes to covering the U.S. election.

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Safety resources

Pre-assignment planning

Basic preparedness: Risk assessment
Digital security: Risk assessment

Physical safety

Legal rights

Guide to legal rights in the U.S.
Call the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press legal hotline at 1-800-336-4243 or send an email

Get help

CPJ’s safety experts conduct group safety workshops for newsrooms and one-on-one safety clinics for individual journalists, including freelancers. If you are a journalist or editor and would like to speak with someone about your safety concerns, please email us at [email protected].

Submit a press freedom incident in the United States to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker by completing a form here.

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