NCTJ launches new safety guidelines to support journalists in the field
The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) has published new guidelines to help journalists stay safe in the field, as part of a wider initiative to improve safety and resilience in the media industry.
The resource was developed following last year’s UK-wide riots, which saw an unprecedented level of physical threats against reporters in the field.
The one-page downloadable resource offers concise, practical advice for journalists, summarising key safety protocols to follow before, during and after reporting in potentially risky environments.
The mobile-friendly guidelines are available for all journalists to download for free here.
The NCTJ’s Safety and Resilience for Journalists e-learning course has also been updated to feature an extended version of the guidelines.
Free for all journalists to access via the Journalism Skills Academy, the online course aims to raise awareness and provide essential guidance to support journalists if they face difficult situations as a direct result of their job. Topics covered include online safety, managing distressing stories, and mental health and wellbeing.
The resources were developed in response to growing concerns about the risks journalists face while reporting. Surveys have shown that safety concerns are contributing to challenges in recruitment, retention, and mental health across the industry.
Joanne Forbes, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “The NCTJ is committed to supporting journalists’ safety and wellbeing at every stage of their careers.
“By publishing these guidelines and updating our e-learning course, we are taking practical action to give journalists the tools they need to stay safe while doing vital work in complex and sometimes dangerous situations.”
The training resources have been developed in consultation with the NCTJ’s safety and resilience advisory panel, which was established in 2022 to bring the industry together around safeguarding issues. The panel includes representatives from major news organisations, digital platforms, freelance journalists, and education providers.
To mark the release of the new resources, the NCTJ is sharing tips and experiences from frontline journalists on its social media channels. Contributors include Alex Crawford, patron of the NCTJ and special correspondent for Sky News, who said: “The basic safety rules apply wherever you are. I would suggest anyone going into a possibly hostile environment should make sure they don’t go alone – and if they must, make sure someone knows where they are.”
