This page contains an overview of different types of safety trainings that organisations offer to journalists, either offline or online. The focus of the trainings may range from physical safety (in the form of HET courses), to digital safety (in the form of online modules).
Physical safety trainings
Many safety trainings for journalists focus on physical safety, but they may be known under the following names, among others:
- HET (Hostile Environment Training);
- HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training);
- HEFAT (Hostile Environment and First Aid Training)
- HEST (Hostile Environment Safety Training);
- HESC (Hostile Environment Safety Course).
A wide range of organisations provide safety trainings to journalists, as well as refresher courses. The latter are important for journalists to take in order to ensure their knowledge and skills are up to date and they are able to deal with new threats to their safety. Through the Rory Peck Training Fund, freelance journalists who work in hostile environments can receive bursaries for safety trainings that are provided by six course providers that the Rory Peck Trust works with. These course providers are also included in the overview below.
| Organisation | Target group | Type of training |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Option High Risk (United Kingdom) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET (four days) |
| 1st Option High Risk (United Kingdom) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET Refresher (two days) |
| 1st Option High Risk (United Kingdom) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET Refresher (three days) |
| AKE (United Kingdom) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET (four days) |
| AKE (United Kingdom) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET Refresher (three days) |
| Global Journalist Security (United States & Kenya) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET (three – five days) |
| Global Journalist Security (United States & Kenya) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET Refresher (two days) |
| Pilgrims Group (United Kingdom) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET (eight-hour e-learning package + two days) |
| RPS Partnership (United Kingdom & Germany) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in medium-intensity environments | HET (three – four days) |
| SEPAR International (United Kingdom, Kenya & Afghanistan) Grants available via the Rory Peck Trust | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET (five days) |
| Blue Mountain (United Kingdom) | Front line media workers | HET (four days) |
| Objective Travel Safety (United Kingdom) | Journalists, NGOs and media teams travelling to conflict areas | HET (two days) |
| Risc Training (Various locations) | Freelance journalists working in hazardous environments | HET (six days) |
| International News Safety Institute (Various locations) | Media personnel working in hazardous environments | HET, tailored to the needs and circumstances of local and regional journalists |
| Centre for Safety (The Netherlands) | Staff working and/or travelling in low and medium risk areas | HET (Basic Safety and Security Light) (two days) |
| Centre for Safety (The Netherlands) | Staff working and/or travelling in medium and high risk areas | HET (Basic Safety and Security) (three days) |
| Centre for Safety (The Netherlands) | Staff working and/or travelling in high and extreme risk areas | HET (Advanced Safety and Security) (five days) |
Online safety trainings
Online safety trainings can revolve around digital safety, but also around physical safety. The overview below lists online courses on safety that are all free of charge.
| Organisation | Training | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Security First | Umbrella | Open-source Android app for digital and physical safety |
| Security First | Phishing, Malware and Social Engineering | 20-minute course How to identify and prevent some of the most common digital security risks faced by activists (the uses of phishing and social engineering to spread malware on your devices and access your data) |
| Security First | Secure Communications | 20-minute course How to recognise and prevent the most common reasons for digital security breaches and how to bypass censorship online |
| Security First | Secure Passwords and Encryption of Data | 20-minute course How to recognise and prevent the most common reasons for digital security breaches and how to bypass censorship online |
| Security First | Staying Safe Online and Using Social Media | 20-minute course How to recognise and prevent the most common reasons for digital security breaches and how to bypass censorship online |
| TrollBusters | Digital Hygiene Course | 5-10 minutes per lesson 16 lessons on how to combat online harassment |
| Amnesty International | Digital Security and Human Rights | 3 weeks course, 1-2 hours per day Digital threats, key human rights implications of digital security, the right to privacy, the right to freedom of expression, how to strengthen your security online |