Digital security for journalists: Protecting your data and defending against doxing

Online harassment and doxing are serious issues for journalists in Minnesota — and everywhere. These risks may increase when reporting on specific topics, including government officials and immigration enforcement activities.

While journalists can't stop online abuse, there are steps that they can take to better protect themselves.

This webinar will give journalists practical guidance on protecting their personal online data, securing their online accounts and preparing themselves and their newsrooms for an online attack.

• When: Thursday, May 14
• Time: 10 a.m. CT
• Where: Virtual, on Zoom
• RSVP: Register for the session on Zoom

Who this is for

Every Minnesota journalist, whether you're on staff in a newsroom or a freelancer — and the people in and around their orbits who support their work — will benefit from this training.

Reporters, photographers, producers, copy editors, designers, engagement teams and anyone else in or around the newsroom: This session will help you assess your digital risk and offer practical steps for securing your devices, accounts and data. Whether you're primarily deployed in the field or the bulk of your work is behind the scenes, this session is for you.

Editors, team leaders and newsroom decision-makers: This session will offer useful tools and frameworks for guiding your teams; supporting their safety and preparedness online and across their devices; and setting your newsroom up to mitigate and plan for online harassment and doxing. 

Newsroom-adjacent IT, digital, HR and other support teams: This session will help you better understand the specific needs, risks and concerns of journalists in the digital space. It will offer tools, checklists and a framework for supporting the journalists and newsrooms you work with. 

What to expect

This is a fast-paced virtual training session packed with tools, resources and opportunities to apply them in your daily lives and work. There will be ample time for questions at the end.

After the training, we will launch a series of optional in-person and virtual working sessions so participants can put into action the tools and safeguards they'll learn about in the webinar. 

Please note that this session will not be recorded.

RSVP: Sign up for the Zoom session

Digital security for Minnesota journalists: Training series

This training is being organized by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Minnesota Journalism Center and the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists.

It is the first in a series of online and in-person training events, workshops and gatherings focused on supporting Minnesota journalists' digital security and safety online, particularly after the most recent wave of intense breaking news events they have covered in the past year.

Upcoming sessions

• May 14 — Protecting your data and defending against doxing [virtual]
• May 21 — Securing the story: Protecting sources and materials [virtual]

After each webinar, the Minnesota Journalism Center will host a series of optional in-person and virtual working sessions for participants to act on the recommendations and assessments offered by the trainings. 

If your newsroom would like to hold its own working session/s after the trainings, please let us know — we're building a toolkit we'd be happy to share with you!

About the trainer

Ela Stapley is the CPJ’s Digital Security Advisor working on the Emergencies team, where she supports journalists worldwide with their digital security needs. 

A former freelance journalist, Ela has worked in digital safety support for the media for over a decade. 

She is the founder and director of Siskin Labs, a consulting company that works with organizations and individuals in high-risk digital security situations. She holds a master’s in International Journalism from the University of Cardiff, UK.

About the sponsors

The Committee to Protect Journalists promotes press freedom worldwide and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. CPJ protects the free flow of news and commentary by taking action wherever journalists are under threat.

The Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the oldest, largest and broadest-based organization of journalists in the U.S., offers tools to make the business of journalism easier. MNSPJ shares detailed information about the work of SPJ and the issues most relevant to today’s journalists.

The Minnesota Journalism Center supports a more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable ecosystem for journalism in Minnesota through educational initiatives, applied research and engagement with newsrooms and journalists across the state.