Physical Safety

Sexual violence can take many forms, including sexual and physical assaults. Any individual can be the subject of sexual misconduct, but journalists are often at risk from a range of people, including sources and members of the public, while they are reporting. That risk is heightened for female or gender non-conforming journalists.

Solo work is becoming more common, especially for broadcast and video journalists. However, working alone can make journalists vulnerable to physical assault. For assignments in locations such as neighborhoods with high crime rates, protests, or remote areas, it is advisable that journalists do not work alone.

Ask any female journalist about harassment or safety while on assignment and they’ll likely have a story to tell.

Reporting on crowd violence or mobs can be dangerous, and every year journalists are injured covering such stories.

Journalists face the risk of serious injuries while on both dangerous and routine assignments. In situations when emergencies lead to severe injury, journalists should be prepared to deal with medical complications in order reduce the severity of injuries and to save both their lives and the lives of their colleagues.

The dynamics of a natural disaster or extreme weather event are fluid and threats can materialize quickly. Journalists should research potential threats associated with the event they are covering and prepare accordingly.

The dynamics of a terrorist attack are fluid and threats can materialize quickly–from explosions and gunmen to knife attacks, vehicular attacks, or sieges.

Decisions journalists make in the field have direct bearing on their safety and that of others. The risks inherent in covering war, political unrest, and crime can never be eliminated, but careful planning and risk assessment can mitigate the dangers.