Evidence: Journalists and Safety Training: Experiences and Opinions
Participating organisations in the Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change - Building Informed and Engaged Societies were asked to identify, in their opinion, the 5 most compelling research and evaluation studies that demonstrate the direct impact of this field of work on a major development issue. This was one of the nominees. For the full compiled list, please click here. For the compilation of the key impact data across all research evidence identified, please click here.
Title of paper, article, book (chapter), publication?:
Journalists and Safety Training: Experiences and Opinions
Name(s) of author(s)?:
Autumn Slaughter, Bradley Brummel, Susan Drevo, and Elana Newman
Who published this paper, article, book (chapter) or other publication?:
Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
What are the best extracts that highlight the evidence for the impact of a communication for development, social change, behaviour change, public engagement, or informed citizen strategy on a development issue and priority?:
KEY FINDINGS: THE GOOD NEWS
Journalist safety training has a positive impact.
Many journalists report implementing changes in behavior (such as carrying first aid kits and undertaking other preparations for assignments) as a result of training.
- Many journalists reported changes in their overall attitudes toward safety as a function of training.
- Two-thirds of journalists reported using safety training skills either occasionally or frequently.
- Journalists expressed high satisfaction with safety training content overall, as well as for the expertise of trainers.
KEY FINDINGS: GAPS AND CHALLENGES
Many journalists' safety training is not current.
- Only 27% of journalists surveyed reported trainings completed within the last year; 36% completed one to three years ago; 16% completed three to five years ago; and 21% completed safety training more than five years ago.
- Fewer than half (43%) of the journalists surveyed reported having ever taken a refresher course, even though general industry standards recommend refreshers every three years.
- Thus, at least one-third of the journalists surveyed are in need of either refresher courses or updating of skills to current knowledge, technology and threats.
Training content remains military-and-battlefield centered, despite journalists describing a far broader range of crisis reporting/hostile environment assignments. Lack of training on gender-based violence as well as other gender- and culture-related topics are major gaps, as is gender equity among trainers. Trauma-awareness and digital security trainings also remain significantly limited.
- The most commonly taught topics included first aid (96%); personal safety including ballistic threats and equipment (86%); hostage survival (80%); vehicle/travel safety (77%) medical knowledge (75%); and risk assessment and management (71%).
- First aid was overwhelmingly rated as one of the most useful of available training topics (79%). Medical knowledge (55%), personal safety (49%), risk and assessment management (38%), vehicle security/travel safety (37%), hostage survival (37%), and digital security (37%) were the next most highly ranked among those who received training on these topics.
- The least commonly taught topics included cultural awareness and gender specific considerations (26%), eliciting information (12%), responding to sexual harassment/gender-based violence (8%), crime scene management (7%), and responding to online harassment (3%).
- Only 8% of journalists reported receiving sexual harassment/gender-based violence training and only 3% reported receiving online harassment training. Even when taught, integration of gender and diversity topics received the lowest satisfaction rating.
- Approximately half (46%) of journalists reported receiving some form of psychological trauma training. However, several journalists explicitly described the available training as cursory, dismissive or stigmatizing.
- Barely more than one-third of journalists (35%) reported receiving digital security training, but among those who did receive such training, it was highly valued.
- Journalists consistently expressed a need and desire for:
- gender-based;
- regionally relevant;
- and psychological trauma components.
The use of kidnap or hostage scenarios in HEFAT trainings proved a divisive topic.
- Approximately one-third of journalists (37%) rated the value of hostage or kidnap simulations very highly.
- However, a vocal minority questioned the value of advice given and/or the possible deleterious psychological impact on trainees. Cost remains a significant barrier to access.
57% of journalists surveyed reported their safety trainings was paid by their employers. Only 9% paid for training out of their own pocket; the remaining 33% relied on charitable organizations, NGOs, or a mix of funding sources. Cost also seems to be a barrier in accessing refresher courses and other training updates.
To which development issue does this evidence and impact data relate?:
Access to information, media development
To which strategic approach(es) does the evidence and impact data relate?:
Journalism safety
What research methodology (ies) was/were used to produce this evidence and impact data?:
See pages 8-10: https://dartcenter.org/sites/default/files/journalists_and_safety_training_-_experiences_and_opinions_.pdf
What is the URL to access this paper, article, book (chapter) or other publication?:
Why was this research evidence found to be useful?:
This data together with other information and research on journalism safety has been disseminated to the media and media development community in the form of a series of webinars in order to raise awareness of the issue of journalism safety.