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Safety during the COVID-19 pandemic

Last update: 23 October 2020

Journalists and media professionals around the world are working hard to keep the public informed, but in doing so, they are putting their own safety at risk. Covering the pandemic may have impact on their physical, digital, psycho-social and legal safety. This page provides information on these safety risks, as well as practical tips and resources.

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Physical safety
Digital safety
Psycho-social safety
Legal safety

Physical safety

By covering the pandemic and creating stories, journalists are more exposed to virus and therefore may risk their health, especially if they lack personal protective equipment, such as face masks and gloves. Moreover, journalists may also face an increase in physical attacks connected to their coverage on the pandemic, such as violence used by security forces.

Common tips to protect one’s physical safety while covering the COVID-19 pandemic include, among others:

  • Standard recommendations such as hysical distancing (at least 1.5 metres), washing hands regularly and thoroughly, avoiding touching one’s face, wearing face masks, avoiding using public transport etc.;
  • Regularly disinfecting equipment;
  • Avoiding densely packed areas.

The following resources specifically address physical safety in the context of COVID-19:

Digital safety

Transitioning to working from home may be very challenging for journalists and media professionals. More than before, they need to be mindful of their digital safety. Furthermore, they may have to deal with Internet and social network shutdowns, hacking, surveillance, and online harassment.

Common tips to protect one’s digital safety while working from home include, among others:

  • Using a VPN-connection;
  • Using a password manager;
  • Using two-factor autthentication;
  • Using secure messaging and co-working platforms;
  • Using secure cloud storage to share files.

See this page for more information on protecting one’s digital safety (while working from home) and a number of practical resources.

The following resources specifically address working from home in times of COVID-19:

Psycho-social safety

Covering the COVID-19 pandemic can be very tough for journalists and media professionals, as the pandemic also impacts them – they are also experiencing the topic that they are covering. That means that they might experience both professional stress and personal stress, which may exacerbate in repressive countries where journalists are struggling to deliver reliable information to their audiences. Furthermore, working extended hours, working remotely and a decrease in in-person interactions may put additional stress on journalists, causing feelings and sensations of anxiety, stress, loneliness and reduced productivity and concentration.

Common tips to protect one’s psycho-social safety while covering the COVID-19 pandemic and working from home include, among others:

  • Developing an awareness of one’s own limits, triggers and weak points;
  • Keeping a routine which involves regular sleep, rest and contact with loved ones;
  • Paying extra attention to boundaries and structure in one’s day.

See this page for more information on protecting one’s psycho-social safety, including a number of practical resources.

The following resources specifically address psycho-social safety in the context of COVID-19:

Many governments have called a state of emergency, which is often accompanied by overly broad legal restrictions under the pretext of countering dis-information on COVID-19. As a consequence, many journalists and media professionals have been arrested or detained, as shown by data by the International Press Institute.

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