India Toolbox — Resources for Journalists’ Safety
With an average of two to three journalists killed due to their work every year, India is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for media professionals. Journalists who are critical of the government are routinely subject to online harassment, intimidation, threats and physical attacks, as well as criminal prosecution and arbitrary arrests. Given this context, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is providing a safety toolbox dedicated to India. The toolbox brings together practical, up-to-date resources developed by leading partners such as the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) and the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN). Content from the Thomson Reuters Foundation has also been included.
The toolbox includes guides on physical and digital safety, mental health, legal rights and protection, as well as tools for investigation. This toolbox aims to provide journalists and media professionals in India — and international journalists covering India — with valuable resources to help them better protect themselves, understand their rights, and continue working despite the growing number of threats against press freedom.
💡 Languages :
The toolbox is available in English as well as in several regional languages Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, Kashmiri, and Urdu.
Some of the resources offered are also available in Nepali, Malayalam, and Kannada.
Resources – India
General
English, Hindi & Bengali
- Journalist Security Assessment Tool (JSAT) – GIJN. Provides an online assessment of a media organisation’s physical and cybersecurity resilience, with recommendations to strengthen security (English & Hindi).
- Code of Conduct to Improve Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Safety of Journalists in South Asia – Public Media Alliance. (English, Hindi, Bengali & Nepali).
- Resource Center – MRDI. Handbooks on journalism, ethics, safety and verification. Though focused on Bangladesh, many resources are relevant for Bengali-speaking journalists in India (Bengali).
English only
- BBC Media Action – India – Offers media development and capacity-building programmes across India to strengthen independent journalism and public-interest reporting. (English).
- Free Speech Collective – Resources and materials related to free speech, globally (English)
- NWMI – A toolbox of guidelines for women journalists in India (English)
- Sustainability takeaways from Urdu-language media’s struggles in India International Journalists’ Network (English)
Digital safety
English, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil
- Internet Shutdown Tracker– SFLC. Monitors internet restrictions across India (English & Hindi).
- Guide to Survive – SFLC. How to Defend Your Online Spaces Against Online Gender-Based Violence. (English, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil).
- Guide: Search and Seizure of Electronic Devices – SFLC. (English, Hindi & Marathi).
English only
- Free Speech Tracker – SFLC. Monitors online speech restrictions in India. (English).
- Security and Privacy Features Analysis of Messaging Applications(Arattai, WhatsApp, Signal, Prav, Element) – SFLC. (English).
- Reporting Safely Under Threat & Harassment– JiG. (English)
Physical safety
English, Hindi & Bengali
- Journalist Security Assessment Tool (JSAT) – Available in Hindi through GIJN Advisory Services – Helps journalists assess their physical and digital security practices. (English & Hindi).
- Emergency kit – Front Line Defenders – Kit of simple basic practices for immediate use to help journalists navigate challenging situations such as natural disasters, violence or chronic stress (Bengali).
English only
- Techniques to stay safe while covering civil unrest (HEAT training) – RSF Resources website. (English).
- Safety tips for journalists covering protests – RSF Resources website. (English).
- Preparing for Civil Unrest– RSF Resources website. (English).
- Earth Journalism Network – Safety and Security for Environmental Journalists in Southern Asia (English).
Mental health
English only
- Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma – Provides trauma-informed training, advice and support for news media workers and their newsrooms across the Asia Pacific. (English).
- Self-care for Journalists – RSF Resources Website. (English).
- What to do when confronted with online smearing – RSF Resources website. (English).
- Totem Project – Provides free online courses on digital security, online protection, mental health and risk awareness for journalists and human rights defenders. (English).
Legal advice
English & Hindi
- Know Your Rights: Guide for Journalists in India – Trust Law (Thomson Reuters Foundation) & CPJ. (English & Hindi).
- How Journalists Can Avoid Legal Hassles and Lawsuits – GIJN. (English & Hindi).
English only
- Contact List of Digital Defenders in India, by region – SFLC. (English).
- Strategic Litigation – Social-Legal Information Centre (SLIC)– Provides legal support and leads strategic litigation to defend press freedom and protect journalists’ rights. (English).
- Understanding Defamation Laws in India – Thomson Reuters Foundation. (English).
- Digital Patrakar Defence Clinic – Provides Indian journalists with pro bono legal advice, assistance, and representation. (English)
OSINT
English, Hindi, Urdu & Kannada
- Hindi Hub – GIJN. A regional version of the website offering investigative journalism resources in Hindi. Includes specific guides such as a guide to writing investigative stories on land disputes or castes with various resources for journalists covering environmental or social issues. (Hindi).
- OCCRP Aleph – OCCRP. Free data platform that can help journalists investigate crime and corruption by searching and linking millions of public and leaked records (Hindi, Urdu & Kannada).
- Webinar for journalists covering COVID-19 vaccines – Journalism Courses by Knight Center for journalists covering pandemics and vaccination available to watch in Hindi
English only
- Calls for India-related freelance investigations – Bellingcat is considering pitches for open-source investigative reports from India. This includes, but is not limited to, human rights issues, extremism and stories related to the environment and climate change.
Link to the RSF safety guide
Link to external resources
RESOURCES – INDIA