International Women’s Media Foundation

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is committed to improving the safety of journalists in the United States and provides wraparound care for newsrooms and journalists looking for resources and knowledge to implement best practices and safety policies. This can include virtual group safety trainings, 1:1 or small team safety consultations, safety policy development and implementation assistance, and emergency aid grants.

The IWMF’s holistic approach is uniquely identity-centric, accounting for the ways gender, race, sexual orientation, location, resources and other intersections impact a journalist’s ability to work safely. 

Learn more about the IWMF’s safety opportunities and resources.

2025 Newsrooms Trainings:

In 2024, the IWMF launched the Newsroom Safety Across America Initiative to provide safety training to journalists ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. The IWMF trained more than 600 journalists representing 200 local and regional news outlets in battleground states and rural areas as newsrooms grappled with ongoing safety challenges. Please read our report called “Journalists Under Fire: US Media Report Daily Threats, Harassment and Attacks at Home.”

If you are a newsroom interested in virtual and/or in-person safety trainings, or support with developing safety policies, please complete this newsroom form.

Digital safety resources:

• The Online Violence Response Hub by the International Women’s Media Foundation 
• A Guide to Protecting Newsrooms and Journalists Against Online Abuse by the International Women’s Media Foundation (Spanish)
  • Template: Staff Survey of Online Violence 
  • Template: Checklist for Protecting Staff Data 
  • Template: Online Violence Risk Assessment 
  • Template: Reporting and Escalation Policy 
  • Template: Statement of Support and Clarification 
  • Template: FAQ 
  • Template: Online Violence Guide for the Newsroom 
• A Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence by the International Women’s Media Foundation (Spanish)
• Better Protection for Freelancers Facing Online Violence 
• The International Women’s Media Foundation online abuse courses 

Physical safety resources:

• MOOC: “How to report safely: Strategies for women journalists and their allies” by the International Women’s Media Foundation and UNESCO, organized by the Knight Center for Journalism
• Overseas Travel & Risk Assessment Template by the International Women’s Media Foundation

For emergency assistance:

• One-on-one safety consultations with the International Women’s Media Foundation
• Emergency fund for U.S. based journalists by the International Women’s Media Foundation
• A roundup of organizations offering emergency assistance by the Coalition Against Online Violence
• For updated PPE recommendations, please reach out to the IWMF at programs@iwmf.org.