Advisories

Advisory: Covering environmental disasters

This INSI advisory covers reporting safely on environmental hazards from wildfires and volcanic eruptions to building fires and chemical spills.

What to put in your medical pack

Medical packs are an essential piece of kit for journalists. Emergencies can happen when you least expect them – not just in hostile or challenging environments.

Working in hot weather

With Europe, Africa, North America, parts of Asia and the Middle East struggling with heatwaves that have seen record temperatures soaring into the 40s, INSI has some advice for journalists working in hot weather.

Covering the Mexican elections

Mexico’s presidential race has been described as the bloodiest in recent history with 114 candidates, politicians or office holders killed since nationwide campaigning stated in September 2017, according to the security consulting group Etellekt.

Covering the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Over the past six months, INSI has held a series of events for its members focused on covering the FIFA World Cup. The following information is a summary of our members’ advisories on covering the Russia 2018 tournament safely.

Advisory: Winter Olympics

With the Winter Olympics underway, INSI has been working to support our members on the ground in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Advisory: Covering the Kenyan election re-run

Kenya’s Supreme Court annulled the presidential elections held in August because of irregularities and has scheduled a new vote for 26 October. The opposition has threatened to boycott but with ballot papers arriving, the poll looks set to go ahead on Thursday.

Reporting on natural disasters

After the recent string of devastating hurricanes and earthquakes, INSI has some advice for journalists covering natural disasters.

Reporting on demonstrations and civil disorder

Demonstrations like the one in Charlottesville, Virginia can quickly turn violent. INSI has some advice for journalists covering protests.

Covering the Kenyan elections

Kenya goes to the polls on 8 August to elect a president, parliament and county assembly seats. Election violence in 2007/08 killed more than 1,000 people and there are fears that this poll could easily turn violent as well. Chris Msando, an electoral official, was found dead in late July with reports saying he had been tortured and murdered.

Know your rights when covering protests in the US

Journalists generally have the First Amendment right to film or photograph public spaces and events, including police activity at protests. What else can they, and can't they, do when reporting from a protest?

Advisory: covering protests

With the inauguration of the new US president, Donald Trump, just days away and protestors massing on Washington DC, INSI has some advice for journalists on staying safe if the demonstrations turn violent.

What journalists need to know about the Snoopers' Charter

The so-called Snoopers' Charter, the Investigatory Powers Bill, has passed into law in the United Kingdom, giving the government wide-ranging authority to intercept and hack into communications. 

From elections to Olympics: covering big events safely

With US presidential candidate Donald Trump branded a threat to press freedom by the Committee to Protect Journalists, and outright hostility and threats to journalists from his supporters, the upcoming US election looks set to be a risky assignment. 

How to deal with a journalist's kidnap

The kidnapping of journalists isn’t a new thing. We saw it in Lebanon in the 80s and 90s with the kidnapping of Terry Anderson from the AP, David Hirst of the Guardian, Charles Glass of ABC. 

Securing your newsroom

INSI knows that it’s not just in war zones where journalists can find themselves at risk, and it’s not just war correspondents who have to deal with safety issues. 

Podcast: Getting ready for Rio

INSI's Marcelo Moreira from Globo Television in Rio explains how journalists can stay safe, and still get the story, at the Brazil Olympics.

Images by AFP

Advisory: good advice and instinct keeps journalist safe when covering elections

Though the political stump speeches all tend to sound the same, elections in East Africa are wildly different affairs. 

Under surveillance: journalists urged to guard their data

The two most important principles for great journalism go hand in hand: first, to hold power to account, and second, to protect sources.

Staying safe online

Protecting your data, and yourself, online is an absolute necessity for journalists, especially those working with sensitive information.

Wearing body armour: a guide for journalists

With enough information and preparation, it is possible for journalists to work more safely in hostile environments. 

Travel advisory: Working in the heat during Ramadan

Hundreds of people have died in a heatwave in Pakistan as temperatures reached 45C in the southern port city of Karachi. 

Advisory: Surviving an abduction

The eyes of  world have been focused on the safety of the news media in the last couple of months following the kidnapping and brutal murders of our colleagues, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as the killings of dozens of local journalists.

Advisory: Covering the Ebola outbreak

This is the largest known outbreak of the disease and the first in West Africa.

Advisory: Planning and preparation for hostile environments

Journalists need to be physically and mentally equipped to face potential dangers when reporting in unsafe and unpredictable situations.

IN BRIEF: Being followed?

With the release of our Killing the Messenger report showing that more journalists than ever are being targeted as they carry out their work, INSI has some advice if you think you're being followed.

IN BRIEF: Grab bags

SAFETY ADVISORY: Ukraine as at 30/01/14

The International News Safety Institute is issuing the following safety advice for journalists covering the protests in Ukraine.

SAFETY ADVISORY: Sochi, Russia as at 21/01/14

The Russian city of Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games from 7 February to 13 February. The Paralympic games begin on 7 March and run until 16 March.

SAFETY ADVISORY: Thailand as at 10/01/14

Six people have been injured in clashes in Bangkok, ahead of next week’s planned ‘shutdown’ of the Thai capital by anti-government protesters.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Central African Republic as at 16/12/13

The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is deteriorating despite the arrival of 1600 French troops and African Union peacekeeping forces earlier this month.

SAFETY ADVISORY: Egypt as at 06/12/13

Protests are planned for today and this weekend in Egypt.

SAFETY ADVISORY: Covering demonstrations in Bangkok and Kiev

Journalists have reportedly been injured and attacked while covering the protests taking place in Bangkok and Kiev.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Central African Republic as at 21/11/13

The security situation in the Central African Republic has deteriorated since March this year when rebels seized power and forced the President Francois Bozizé into exile.

SAFETY ADVISORY: The Philippines as at 13/11/13

Four days have passed since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, affecting millions of people.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Lebanon as at 09/09/13

As the US and its allies consider a military strike against Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb last month, foreign journalists are flocking to neighbouring Lebanon to cover the potential fallout.