LHASA, TIBET - A Tibetan worshiper looks at Chinese police patrolling in front of Potala Palace before the Beijing Olympic Torch relay on June 20, 2008, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. (Photo 81671126 by Guang Niu/Courtesy of Getty Images)
GJS has been chosen by the U.S. State Department to provide integrated, physical, digital and emotional self-care security training and advice to journalists in Central America, East Africa and Central Asia, partnering with the nonprofit, international media development group IREX. Read more here.
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Global Journalist Security draws from cutting edge civilian, law enforcement and military practices to provide safety training for journalists, citizen journalists, human rights activists and NGO workers. Unlike previously available training, our curriculum integrates physical, digital and emotional aspects of self-protection. We train avoiding and deterring sexual assault, practicing digital safety for information and communications, navigating organized crime and other violent actors, along with civil unrest, combat hazards, emergency first-aid and emotional trauma awareness and self-care. Our sexual assault, self-defense and self-care teams are led by women. GJS is comprised of veteran journalists, specialized security professionals, and press freedom advocates experienced operating in repressive, criminal and other hostile environments. Read More About GJS
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Journalist, Human Rights Safety News
WSJ: Phones Leave a Telltale Trail
June 15, 2013
CPJ (Smyth): Secrecy, Scale of PRISM raises alarms
June 07, 2013
Frontline Resources & Support
Journalists including freelance and citizen journalists today are operating increasingly on their own as they do frontline reporting in high-risk environments. Many human rights activists and NGO workers face similar risks. Diverse groups provide resources and support.Research Behind GJS Training
Global Journalist Security researches specific risks and mitigation strategies to develop safety training that best meets the needs of our trainees. We further tailor training to meet local conditions, and design scenarios based on composites of real events.Selected Endorsements
- "Global Journalist Security provides us with detailed risk assessments to help us make the best safety decisions before sending people into the field. We use GJS to help with our evaluation of risk from both physical and digital threats." New York, N.Y., January 2013
- "Global Journalist Security provided a superior digital security training workshop for a small group of IWMF journalists. The GJS trainer, who was clearly an expert in the realm of protecting electronic data, really took the time to understand our reporters’ needs and to provide extra one-on-one attention to make sure everyone was on the same page. Though the participating journalists all work for major media outlets, and many had reported from countries known for electronic surveillance, none of them had received this kind of training before. It was an invaluable experience for them, and the IWMF will undoubtedly seek out GJS’s digital security expertise for its future programs." Washington, D.C., December 2012
- "Preparing to send my team to a sensitive area after the expulsion of a number of foreign journalists had us on edge. Global Journalist Security’s detailed mission risk assessment coupled with a rigorous security protocol made us realize that there were many steps we could take in advance of the trip and once on the ground to minimize risk and assure a quick response should the need arise." Washington, D.C., November 2012
- "The Global Journalist Security training was an incredibly eye-opening experience, and one I highly recommend not only for people traveling to dangerous corners of the world, but to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Beyond sitting my colleagues and I down and explaining what potential dangers lurked in our destination country, Frank and his team of experts listened to our concerns, observed our verbal/non-verbal reactions and tailored their training to help prepare us best for a potential encounter. They helped me to identify my own deficiencies and learn how to react to potential dangers through dialogue and role play. This training was not only educational, it was empowering." Washington, D.C., October 2012
- “Frank Smyth has been a key advisor for World Pulse’s online new media, citizen journalism and empowerment training for grassroots women leaders since 2010. His dedication and expertise have helped us ensure a safe working environment for our program participants, who are writing from some of the most repressive regimes in the world.” Portland, Oregon, November 2011
- “The training I received in advance of a planned trip to Bahrain amid the ongoing violence made me feel more prepared physically and mentally and I highly recommend Global Journalist Security's approach for anyone planning to travel to a potentially dangerous country.” Washington, DC, April 2012
- “A big hug to you both. For you and for Sara. You penetrated our minds and hearts. More than you two can imagine. Good luck!!!”
“Un fuerte abrazo para los dos. Para ti y para Sara. Penetraron en nuestra mente y corazón. Más de lo que ustedes mismos imaginan. Suerte!!!!”
Ciudad de México, Febrero 2012 / Mexico City, February 2012 - “The personal and professional security training conducted by Global Journalist Security was both interactive and informative. I left the training with a much greater knowledge of how to assess my surroundings and how to protect myself in vulnerable situations.” Washington, DC, April 2012
- “The best course on journalism or related to journalism that I have taken. Very good, Frank.”
“El mejor curso de periodismo o relacionado con el periodismo que he tomado. Muy bueno, Frank.”
Ciudad de México, Febrero 2012 / Mexico City, February 2012