About this project
Over the past two years, the IWMF has supported more than 40 newsrooms with policy development and training around issues related to online abuse. In 2022, we launched our guide to supporting newsrooms with this issue and a year later we set up our News Safety Cohort, a unique training model that incorporates policy development, training and peer-to-peer learning.
As the U.S. heads into an election year, support for online abuse is more critical than ever. Journalists are likely to see an uptick in online attacks and newsrooms need to be well prepared but may not have the time to do so. To respond to this, the IWMF is adapting its cohort model to ensure as many newsrooms are as protected as possible over a shorter period of time.
What does our support look like?
If you want to better protect your newsroom from online violence but are short on time and unsure where to start then our cohort program may be a good fit for you.
We offer:
- A short needs-based assessment to understand what policies you need and which policies you can realistically implement.
- An initial hour-long call with an online abuse expert who will start working on policy development with you in the meeting.
- Policy templates that you can easily adapt for your newsroom.
- Real-life example of policies and guides written by newsrooms we have worked with.
- Minimal meetings with written feedback on policies provided instead.
- Training for staff and freelancers if requested.
Who is this support for?
If you are a newsroom who is looking for support with issues on online violence then please complete this brief intake form.
The International Women’s Media Foundation is launching a national journalism safety initiative to provide wrap around care for small newsrooms and journalists that lack the resources and knowledge to implement best practices and safety policies for 2024 and beyond. The IWMF will offer one and two day highly interactive in person safety workshops to local and regional news outlets in battleground states and rural areas where newsrooms are grappling with ongoing safety challenges. Topics include risk assessment and mitigation, personal security, active shooter, protests, legal/know your rights, and psychosocial/mental health awareness. After the training is completed, the IWMF will offer ongoing support to the participating newsrooms and journalism networks with safety consultations, assistance developing and implementing safety policies, and emergency assistance grants when needed. This approach will target the needs of journalists and newsroom leaders before, during, and after the elections with a mix of prevention and mitigation measures alongside emergency response and assistance if the newsroom faces any threats.
The Newsroom Safety Across America Initiative will begin in February 2023. During the initial phase of this project, the IWMF will prioritize Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Georgia. Exact dates and locations are being finalized. The training is free to participants, but the IWMF is unable to provide financial support for transportation and/or lodging.
If you are a newsroom, journalism association, or freelance journalist, please fill out this form to indicate your interest in this training.
About the IWMF's Safety Work
As the leading provider of identity-informed, holistic safety training and resources for journalists and newsrooms – with a focus on women and non-binary reporters – in the U.S. and globally, the IWMF has trained thousands of journalists to enhance their safety online and offline. From 2020-2022, the IWMF has trained more than 7,230 journalists via our customized safety trainings and self-paced courses, and has provided HEFAT trainings to 810 journalists worldwide from 2014-2023. We lead Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) courses specifically tailored to the localized threats faced by the journalists we serve.
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has given the IWMF a $750,000 grant to establish a three-year fund supporting U.S.-based reporting projects by Indigenous journalists on issues related to Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMMIP) with a concentration on women, girls, Two-Spirit and transgender people.
Starting in March 2022, applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis by an advisory committee comprised of distinguished Indigenous practicing journalists and editors, along with Indigenous thought leaders. The IWMF is conducting ongoing, targeted outreach to eligible journalists and Indigenous journalism groups to solicit proposals. Indigenous journalists affiliated with media outlets, as well as freelancers, are invited to apply.
In addition to monetary support, the IWMF is committed to providing editorial and pitching support to grantees.
Please read our FAQ page and Application Guide for the program. Eligible journalists can apply here.
If you are experiencing any accessibility issues with the application process, please contact info@iwmf.org.
The IWMF and its Coalition Against Online Violence partners are offering journalists the opportunity to sign up for free one-on-one safety consultations.
Concerned about a recent threat, online abuse, government surveillance or an upcoming reporting trip? Our experts provide journalists with clear and practical guidance, whether that's dealing with a digital or physical safety emergency or helping you build digital security into your story planning. We are here to help. You must have journalism as a primary profession to be eligible for a consultation.
Please note: this is not an emergency help line. We are unable to provide rapid response support.
To apply for a consultation, please complete this application. If you have any questions, please email digitalsafety@iwmf.org.
If you are experiencing any accessibility issues with the application process, please contact info@iwmf.org.
The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) is partnering with the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund. Through this link, applicants will be able to be considered for both opportunities, administrated by the IWMF. Read the different criteria of these two opportunities as below:
Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund was started by Sonia Weiser via GoFundMe on May 31, 2020. This fund is designed to provide financial assistance for Black journalists facing financial hardship who are unable to pay for the mental health support they need during this time. While publications ask Black journalists — both freelance and full-time staff members — to put their lives at risk to report on racial injustices and embed themselves within the protests, they rarely provide resources for these same journalists to process the trauma incurred both on the job and in daily life. BJTRF will consider supporting Black journalists globally who:
- have journalism as a primary profession;
- were laid off/furloughed or quit due to harmful workplace practices;
- OR are former journalists suffering from lasting emotional or physical trauma from your time in the field.
If you are experiencing any accessibility issues with the application process, please contact info@iwmf.org.
We established the IWMF Emergency Fund in 2013 for journalists in crisis to provide women journalists with a lifeline of support in times of distress or threat. Now more than ever, journalists around the world face real dangers as a result of their reporting. The Emergency Fund is sustained with the support of individual donors to address the growing need to provide direct assistance to women journalists who are suffering.
The IWMF Emergency Fund provides women journalists with:
- Small grants for psychological and medical care for incidents directly related to threats and crises caused by one’s work as a journalist;
- Three months of temporary relocation assistance in the event of crisis or threat;
- Legal aid to counter threats of imprisonment or censorship;
- Non-financial assistance in the form of information about additional access to resources.
To be eligible for the IWMF Emergency Fund, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be a staff or freelance reporter, working in any medium, whose primary profession is journalism;
- Have worked full-time as a journalist within six months of applying for assistance;
- Apply for assistance with a crisis situation directly connected to work as a journalist.
- The IWMF believes that gender does not conform to one notion. We are inclusive of all journalists who identify as women and non-binary people.
To request assistance from the IWMF Emergency Fund, you must complete this preliminary questionnaire. An IWMF staff member will respond to your request in a timely manner at which point you may be required to provide additional information. Please understand that it will take time to process your request and that we prioritize the most urgent requests. Requests that do not meet the criteria above will not be considered.
If you are a journalist from Afghanistan or Myanmar contacting us regarding relocation or basic support: Please note – due to the current limitations of the IWMF’s resources, at this time we do not have the capacity to support the enormous number of journalists who are deserving and in need, and we regret that we will be unable to process your request.
If you are experiencing any accessibility issues with the application process, please contact info@iwmf.org.
En el 2013 establecimos el Fondo de Emergencia de la IWMF para periodistas en crisis para proporcionar un apoyo vital en tiempos de apuros o amenaza para mujeres periodistas. Ahora más que nunca, los periodistas de todo el mundo enfrentan peligros reales por sus reportajes.
El Fondo de Emergencia se sostiene con el apoyo de donantes individuales para proporcionar asistencia directa a las periodistas en apuros.
El Fondo de Emergencia de la IWMF brinda a las mujeres periodistas:
- Pequeñas subvenciones para atención psicológica y médica relacionadas a incidentes y amenazas en el trabajo como periodista;
- Tres meses de asistencia para reubicación temporal en casos de crisis o amenazas;
- Ayuda legal para contrarrestar amenazas de encarcelamiento o censura;
- Asistencia no financiera en forma de información sobre el acceso a recursos adicionales.
Para solicitar al Fondo de emergencia de la IWMF, los candidatos deben cumplir con los siguientes requerimientos:
- Ser una periodista empleada por un medio o ser una periodista independiente que trabaje en cualquier medio, cuya profesión principal es el periodismo;
- Trabajar como periodista en tiempo completo durante los últimos seis meses;
- Solicitar asistencia directamente relacionada a incidentes y amenazas en el trabajo como periodista;
Para solicitar asistencia del Fondo de emergencia de la IWMF, la postulante debe completar este cuestionario preliminar. Un miembro de la IWMF responderá a su solicitud de manera oportuna para solicitar información adicional. Es importante comprender que comprender qué tomará tiempo para procesar su solicitud y que priorizaremos solicitudes más urgentes. Las solicitudes que no cumplan con los criterios anteriores no serán consideradas.
Si tiene algún problema de accesibilidad en el proceso de solicitud, póngase en contacto con info@iwmf.org.
Promoting the work and advancing the role of women in the news media across the globe is critical to transparency and a diversity of voices. The Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists, the first funding initiative of its kind, enables the IWMF to dramatically expand its support of women journalists. Established with a $4 million gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Fund will support projects including educational opportunities, investigative reporting and media development initiatives.
The Fund for Women Journalists accepts applications on a rolling basis. At this time, we are unable to accommodate large grant requests of more than $10,000.
The Fund was designed to help women journalists by providing grantees support to:
- Expose under-reported but critical global issues
- Undertake ambitious projects that challenge traditional media narratives
- Develop field-based expertise and strengthen careers
- Pursue training and leadership opportunities
- Launch entrepreneurial news projects or acquire the skill to do so
Eligibility
- The Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists is open to women and nonbinary journalists of any nationality.
- Journalism must be the applicant's primary profession.
- Applicants must have at least one year of professional journalism experience, with a track record of publishing in non-student outlets.
- We accept applications from teams of journalists; however, the application must be led and submitted by a woman or nonbinary journalist, and the team must include at least 50% women.
- Due to staff capacity, applications are only accepted in English (preferred) or Spanish, but reporting may be published in any language.
- Please note that the IWMF is unable to work with news outlets (such as the BBC) that do not honor the program's crediting requirements.
Note: The IWMF believes that gender does not conform to one notion. We are inclusive of all women, nonbinary and gender nonconforming journalists.
Due to the high volume of applications, we cannot answer questions by phone or provide applicants with individual feedback. Please review the information on our website before beginning your application.
If you have any further questions or are experiencing any accessibility/connectivity issues with the application process, please email associate program manager, Taylor Moore, at tmoore@iwmf.org.
Los Premios de Valentía en el Periodismo de la International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) honran cada año a mujeres periodistas que se distinguen por mostrar valentía, persistencia y resistencia extraordinaria. Haciendo todo lo necesario para descubrir la verdad, estas mujeres establecen un nuevo estándar para el periodismo bajo coacción o frente la censura.
Los Premios honran periodistas valientes – incluyendo fotoperiodistas – trabajando en cualquier país del mundo. Estas mujeres cubren temas tabú, se sumergen en situaciones hostiles y comparten verdades difíciles y necesarias. Además, las honradas demuestran un compromiso a la libertad de la prensa y muchas veces deben superar condiciones injustas para convertirse en líderes en su profesión.
Candidatas para los Premios de Valentía en el Periodismo pueden ser periodistas que trabajan para un medio de comunicación o periodistas freelance en cualquier país. Deben trabajar a tiempo completo en el periodismo.
Deadline: 3 de Marzo, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET
Las auto-nominaciones no son aceptadas.
Click here to nominate in English.
Cliquez ici pour envoyer une candidature en français.
Si tiene problemas de accesibilidad con el proceso de solicitud, comuníquese con info@iwmf.org.
Les Prix du Courage dans le Journalisme honorent journalistes qui se démarquent par leur bravoure, persistance, et résilience extraordinaire. Ces femmes sont prêtes à faire n'importe quoi pour que la vérité sorte. Elles élèvent le niveau de reportage fait sous la contrainte ou sur la censure. Le programme des Prix de Courage honore trois journalistes courageuses, incluant les photojournalistes, qui travaillent dans n'importe quel pays du monde. Ces femmes rapportent sur les sujets difficiles, s'immergent dans des environnements hostiles et partagent des vérités difficiles. De plus, les journalistes honorés font preuve d'engagement en faveur de liberté de la presse et souvent surmontent des conditions injustes pour devenir dirigeants dans leur industrie. Candidates pour Les Prix du Courage dans le Journalisme doivent être employées à temps plein ou journalistes, écrivaines, rédactrices, photograveures ou productrices indépendantes travaillant dans n'importe quel pays du monde, quelle que soit leur nationalité.
Date limite: 3 mars, 2024, at 23:59 H
Les auto-candidatures ne sont pas acceptées.
Click here for the nomination form in English.
Haga clic aquí para enviar la nominación en español.
Si vous rencontrez des problèmes d'accessibilité avec le processus de candidature, veuillez contacter info@iwmf.org.
The IWMF’s annual Courage in Journalism Awards honor women and nonbinary journalists who set themselves apart by exhibiting extraordinary bravery, persistence and resilience. Doing whatever it takes to uncover the truth, they raise the bar for reporting under duress, or in the face of censorship.
The awards program honors brave journalists – including photojournalists – working in any country across the world. They report on taboo topics, immerse themselves in hostile environments and share difficult truths. In addition, the honorees demonstrate a commitment to press freedom and often overcome unjust conditions online and offline to become leaders in their industry.
Candidates for the Courage in Journalism Awards must be full-time staff or freelance women or nonbinary reporters, writers, editors, photographers or producers working in any country and of any nationality.
Deadline to nominate: March 3, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET.
Self-nominations are not accepted.
Haga clic aquí para enviar la nominación en español.
Cliquez ici pour envoyer une candidature en français.
If you are experiencing any accessibility/connectivity issues with the application process, please contact info@iwmf.org.
The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship gives academic and professional opportunities to women journalists committed to human rights and social justice reporting. During this fellowship, the selected journalist will have the chance to complete research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies and to participate in internships with The Boston Globe and The New York Times.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The Neuffer Fellowship is open to women, nonbinary and gender non-conforming journalists whose work focuses on human rights and social justice issues.
- All applicants for the Neuffer Fellowship must be working journalists with at least three years of full-time, professional journalism experience. Internships and journalism-related work completed as a university student do not count as professional experience. Applicants may be affiliated or freelance journalists.
- Journalists from any country around the world are eligible to apply. However, applicants must speak, read, and write English fluently in order to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship.
Accepting Applications:
March 4, 2024 - April 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST
Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship Schedule:
June 2024: Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow will be selected
February 2025: Fellowship begins in Boston with an internship at the Boston Globe and research/coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies
May 2025: Fellow moves to New York for internship at The New York Times
July 2025: Fellowship ends
Questions
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions page for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship before starting your application or contacting the IWMF.
For any inquiries related to the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, or if you are experiencing accessibility/connectivity issues, please contact Taylor Moore at tmoore@iwmf.org.