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Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline

Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline

If you’re a U.S.-based journalist or news outlet concerned about safety or under attack for your work, you are not alone. We’re here to help.

Email [email protected]

If You Need Help Now:

Email [email protected] with the word “SAFETY” in the subject line. 

The Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline provides U.S. journalists and news outlets with one-on-one safety consults for digital, physical, psychosocial, and legal concerns—from dealing with doxing, threats, and arrests to preparing for risky assignments. The initiative is a collaboration among the Knight Election Hub, PEN America’s digital safety team, leading safety advisors Jeje Mohamed, Yemile Bucay, and Ramy Ghaly, and five journalist safety organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Aegis Safety Alliance, and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

The Journalist Safety Urgent Care Helpline team, including PEN America and our Safety Coordinators, will endeavor to provide you with safety guidance and support, including referrals as appropriate. However, we will not be able to offer legal advice or medical advice—including psychological counseling—and we cannot communicate with law enforcement on your behalf. We are also unable to help with life-threatening emergencies.

In 2024, the U.S. fell 10 spots on the World Press Freedom Index, dropping to 55th of 180. Recent studies published by the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Womens’ Media Foundation found that record numbers of journalists are experiencing physical violence, online abuse, and legal threats in retaliation for their work. These kinds of attacks are deployed to intimidate and silence journalists and news outlets and undermine a free and independent press. The safety helpline is here to ensure that journalists and news outlets feel safe and supported enough to continue doing their vital work.

What You Need to Know:

36% of journalists surveyed reported being threatened with or experiencing physical violence while working as a journalist.

33% of journalists surveyed reported being threatened with or experiencing digital violence while working as a journalist.

28% of journalists surveyed reported legal threats or action against them while working as a journalist.

IWMF, Journalists Under Fire (2024)

Safety helpline FAQs:

Who can access safety support? U.S.-based journalists and news outlets concerned about safety or under attack because of their work—including journalists and outlets covering elections-related issues and national, state, and local politics.

How to request safety support? Email the helpline at [email protected] with the word “SAFETY” in the subject line. IMPORTANT NOTE: Let us know you’re facing a safety concern and need support, but please do not describe any safety issues in detail over email. A care coordinator will reach out as soon as possible to set up a secure communication channel. 

What kinds of safety support? Safety experts can provide free one-on-one consults to journalists and news outlets on digital, physical, psychological, and legal risks and concerns, both proactively and reactively—from preparing for risky assignments to responding to coordinated harassment campaigns, doxing, hacking, threats, and arrests. Available support includes: 

  • For individual journalists and editors (including freelancers): one-on-one and small-group safety consultations
  • For news outlets: individualized needs assessments and safety consultations

When is support available? The helpline is available through the Inauguration (1/20/25) and staffed Mondays to Fridays.

In which languages is support available? Support is primarily available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.

Who is providing safety support? The Knight Election Hub and a stellar group of safety experts from PEN America, Aegis Safety Alliance, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation, Freedom of the Press Foundation, and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

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