Glossary of Terms

A scheduled or impromptu message or phone call between a news outlet or editor and their commissioned journalist, so that the editor can monitor the journalist’s safety and well-being during or after an assignment. Communications plans often include a check-in schedule so that editor and journalist communicate with each other at regular times.

COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

When a large group of abusers attacks a person or entity with a flood of threats, slurs or other online abuse and that editor and journalist communicate with each other at regular times.

CYBER-MOB ATTACK (DOG PILING) PLAN

An agreement between a news outlet or editor and their commissioned journalist, detailing the methods, frequency, contact information and contingencies for secure newsroom-journalist communications during and after an assignment.

DEBRIEF

A learning tool to allow open feedback about a project including what went well, what didn’t and what might be helpful in the future. It allows the team to review their performance, understand mitigation measures and provide emotional support.

DIGITAL SECURITY

The ability to understand and recognize threats in the digital space while having the knowledge to anticipate possible security risks and mitigation practices.

DOXXING (DOXING)

A form of online abuse in which the perpetrator publishes a person’s private information —such as home address, phone number or other details — on social media or another online platform, in order to intimidate, silence or incite violence against the victim.

DUTY OF CARE

The ethical, moral and legal responsibilities that come with employing people, whose health and well-being may be impacted by that employment.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN

A document specifying the methods and procedures to follow in order to escape a hazard or threat during an emergency or crisis.

EMERGENCY TRACKING DEVICE

A navigation tool on a person, vehicle or item that uses geotracking to determine location in high risk assignments or emergency situations.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

A set of resources offered at some news organizations to help support the physical and psychological well-being of employees.

FIXER

Another name for a local producer or local reporting partner who helps facilitate journalism and may fill any or all of the following roles: local guide, cultural interpreter, language interpreter / translator, scheduler, liaison to sources, researcher, logistician, reporter. The term “fixer” is not ideal for all people working in this capacity and can often inaccurately describe the worth and necessity of the role. Local producer or local reporting partner are preferable terms to describe this type of work.

FREELANCER

A worker who is not a full-time employee, but an independent contractor who is hired for short-term commissions or specific projects. Freelancers may also sell or license completed content for a fee.

HACKING

The unauthorized intrusion into an electronic device, network or online account, with the intention to attack, harm or incriminate a person by stealing their data, violating their privacy or infecting their devices with viruses.

HATEFUL SPEECH (HATE SPEECH)

Expression that attacks a specific aspect of a person’s identity, such as their race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability, intended to invoke prejudice about a person instead of engaging with the intellectual merits of an argument or piece of information.

IDENTITY AWARE

The understanding that people from different backgrounds and life experiences — different races, genders, sexual orientations, etc. — sense risk differently and may need varied resources to support their well-being.

HEFAT (HEAT)

Hostile / Hazardous Environment and First Aid Training, usually a multi-day safety course undertaken by journalists to prepare them for risks they may encounter on the job.

INCIDENT REPORTING PROCESS

The procedure for employees/contractors to gather and communicate information about an accident, injury, illness, property damage, security event or other safety emergency–or a near miss–to newsroom managers.

MONITORING

The act of remotely watching over a commissioned journalist, reporting team or reporting partner during a newsgathering activity or assignment, in order to ensure their safety.

ON-SPEC

Working without having a definite buyer, commission or client, but with the hope or expectation of finding one when the work is completed.

ONLINE IMPERSONATION

A form of online abuse in which the perpetrator impersonates someone online by creating a hoax social media account with the victim’s name, and uses the fake account to discredit or defame the victim.

ONLINE VIOLENCE

The use of the internet to perpetrate threats, slurs, harassment or other forms of abuse that result in physical, psychological and / or emotional harm to a person or community.

MITIGATION

A preventative action to reduce the likelihood and / or impact of a risk or hazard.

LOCAL PRODUCER

A reporting partner who helps facilitate journalism and who may fill any or all of the following roles: local guide, cultural interpreter, language interpreter/translator, scheduler, liaison to sources, researcher, logistician, reporter, interviewer.

PEER SUPPORT GROUP / PEER SUPPORT NETWORK

A group of colleagues who gather in person or virtually to provide social support to one another, as they navigate work-related stress.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

PPE includes a helmet, eye protection, flak jacket, stab vest, gas mask, N-95 mask, ear plugs, gloves, knee pads, Nomex (flame-resistant) clothing, a hazmat suit or other covering intended to protect one’s body, eyes or airways.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition that encompasses a number of prolonged stress symptoms after one experiences or witnesses physically harmful, emotionally harmful or life-threatening event or circumstance.

RESILIENCE

The ability to cope with, seek support for and heal from stressful experiences or psychological injuries.

RISK

A potential hazard or threat to one’s body, mind, possessions, data, freedom, family, colleagues, friends, community, home, workplace, livelihood, reputation, security, finances, autonomy or life.

(HOLISTIC) RISK ASSESSMENT

A document describing the potential physical, psychological, legal and digital hazards of undertaking an activity, and the suggested (or required) mitigation measures for each risk. The risk assessment should take the safety of staff journalists, freelancers and reporting partners into account before, during and after the assignment, and should include identity-related and trauma-informed safety considerations.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID

An approach to offer support and reduce stress symptoms for individuals in the midst of or following a traumatic event or circumstance.

PROOF OF LIFE QUESTIONS

A series of personal questions answered by the journalist who then memorizes them and shares them with a family member in advance of an assignment. The questions and answers should be easy to remember for the journalist, but not be publicly known or searchable online. Proof of life questions are used in case of detention or kidnapping to ascertain whether the journalist is alive.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY

Practices and support that protect the health and well-being of a person’s mind, thoughts, emotions and mood.

SAFETY POLICY

A formalized approach, method or process to address or mitigate an ongoing or regular safety concern in the workplace.

SAFETY PROTOCOL

A set of policies, processes and guidelines designed to mitigate the risks to journalists and news organizations and to help protect the organization’s sustainability, newsgathering mission and the physical and mental well-being of its journalists.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

Staying calmly alert to what is happening around you — in your environment or situation — so that you can anticipate, identify, assess and respond to potential hazards or threats.

SELF-CARE

Behaviors that promote and support the health and well-being of oneself.

STRATEGIC LAWSUIT AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (SLAPP)

A SLAPP is a lawsuit filed to prevent or punish a person or entity for exercising speech, press, assembly, petition or other civic activity. Such suits are intended to drain the finances, resources and time of the target and are increasingly filed against journalists and news organizations.

STRINGER

Another name for a freelance worker or independent contractor. A stringer may also have a non-staff contract or long-term work arrangement with a news organization.

TRAUMA

A disturbing event, series of events or circumstance that causes physical, emotional or life-threatening harm.

TRAUMA-INFORMED

An acknowledgement that experiencing — or bearing witness to — a traumatic event can have a profound impact on a person’s well-being, and the application of this understanding to the workplace to better support employees and colleagues.

WINDOW OF TOLERANCE

A concept developed by Dr. Dan Siegel, MD, describing how the nervous system responds to acute stress and ways to regulate the system back into the optimal zone for human functioning.