Resources to support journalist safety in Europe

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Reporters Respond: Emergency & Legal Support

What is covered?

  • Medical assistance: for injuries sustained in the course of the journalists work;
  • Subsistence costs: short term support for journalists who are not able to work, or costs to temporarily flee an unsafe or vulnerable situation;
  • Legal defense support: legal representation for journalists facing prosecution, disputable lawsuits, or any other form of legal intimidation related to their work; cover the costs of judicial proceedings; assist media workers that have been arbitrarily detained or imprisoned (and their families);
  • Psycho-social support: advice, referral, and funds to seek psychosocial assistance;
  • Work provisions: replacement of confiscated or destroyed equipment due to a work-related emergency;
  • Family support: temporary support for family members of journalists who are unable to work, who are imprisoned, or who are deceased;
  • (Preventive) safety measures: security advice, digital tools such as VPNs for digital protection, PPE protection materials like face masks, and safety equipment like ballistic vests.

The support is provided by:

Ways to reach out:

Application/Contact form
More Information
Contact details and support information were last reviewed on January 4, 2025.

Important information about time and eligibility restrictions, as well as further requirements:

The following requirements need to be met in order to apply for assistance:

  • You represent a media organisation or you are a media professional practicing individually (i.e. employed or freelance journalists, fixers, bloggers, or other media-related professionals);
  • Your emergency situation is a direct result of your work in journalism;
  • You recognise that this assistance is not structural;
  • You recognise that the aim of our support is to resume your work as soon as possible;
  • Your situation can be confirmed by at least two trusted sources outside of yourself.

The support offer is designed for:

About the fund:

Free Press Unlimited offers support to media professionals in distress with emergency assistance, legal support, and safety advice through Reporters Respond.
Reporters Respond is an emergency response fund that provides direct assistance, legal support, and safety advice to journalists and media outlets in distress, enabling them to resume their work as quickly as possible. This fund can support journalists and media organisations worldwide who are confronted with (online) harassment, intimidation, legal proceedings, or violence because of their work.

The support offer is available in: