Apply Now: Reporting Safely in Crisis Zones Course
Applications are now open for the Dart Center’s annual four-day crisis zones reporting course, supported by the Rory Peck Trust.
May 16, 2019.
Photo credit: Jika Gonzalez
Once again, the Rory Peck Trust is partnering with the Dart Center, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, and the ACOS Alliance, to offer 16 no-cost places to freelance journalists on the four-day crisis zones reporting course at New York’s Columbia Journalism School in October.
Covering crisis presents some of the biggest challenges in the journalism profession. Reporters must make quick decisions on whether to trust a translator or drive down a dangerous road. This course will teach freelancers how to operate with caution in volatile situations, with an emphasis on conflicts. The training is also relevant to working in natural disaster situations such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis. While most hostile environment training for journalists deals with ducking crossfire and kidnappers, this course will teach freelancers how to avoid unnecessary peril through preparation and planning before, during and after assignments. Participants will emerge from the course with a better understanding of how to hire fixers, shun attackers and protect their digital footprints.
Expert trainers will provide instruction in the following areas:
- Risk assessment: making the right decisions before and during an assignment, setting limits, sound practices amid riots, snipers, mines, shooting, roadblocks, infiltrators and general mayhem.
- Digital Security: safeguarding sensitive computer data and communicating with others in a secure manner. Coding, encryption and cloud computing skills are taught.
- Emergency first aid: tourniquets, triage, fractures and bullet wounds.
- Trauma awareness: emotional self-care while covering troubling stories.
- Rape/sexual assault prevention: setting boundaries, delaying tactics, basic self-defense and healing.
Lead Instructor: Judith Matloff, adjunct faculty, Columbia Journalism School and former conflict correspondent with more than 30 years of experience.
The course will be held October 24 – 27, 2019, at the Columbia Journalism School in New York City.
All program sessions are conducted in English. Participants must be fluent in spoken English.
Application Information
The application deadline is June 24, 2019 at 5:00 pm EST. Click here to apply now.
The course fee – regularly $1175 USD – has been underwritten by the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, the Rory Peck Trust, and the ACOS Alliance. Therefore accepted applicants will not be responsible for any tuition fees to attend the course. However, all participants will be responsible for their travel, lodging, ground transportation and meals.
Sixteen freelance journalists from around the world will be admitted.
Participation is open to freelance journalists only.
Course Testimonials:
“This was the most informative four days of my life and put my previous trainings and degrees to shame. It has really motivated me to stay active and pursue a successful career in journalism.” – Venetia Menzies, photographer and journalist
“It was such a joy to attend the class. The course was incredibly informative and helpful. It is things like your course that make me proud to be a journalist and hopeful for the industry. It will make the next generation safer, wiser and more informed.” – Andrew Burton, photographer for Getty Images
“I used to operate with a mindset that either one of two things would happen to me: 1. Nothing, and hence I’d be fine; or 2. Something bad, and hence I’d probably die. Now, thanks to [the medical instruction], I realize there’s a third option: Something could happen to me and I could survive, simply due to being more prepared and having some basic training. And that’s a great feeling.” – Joshua Hergesheimer, independent writer/photographer (Canada)