Safety is a hot topic in international reporting, but for freelance international reporters, safety is especially critical.
Jessica Jerreat, Voice of America’s (VOA) press freedom editor and Eric Philips, former safety adviser for VOA, dissected the importance of safe international reporting during a MediaFest 25 panel “Writing Beyond Borders: How to break into international publications.”
Despite VOA being suspended by the Trump administration, Jerreat said she wants to continue spreading the importance of investing in international reporting and, most importantly, in safety.
“I feel very passionate about getting in front of people who are studying journalism in college at schools where they have very robust programs on journalism,” Philips said, agreeing with Jerreat on the importance of safety. “But I’ve come to discover nothing [about] freelance journalists’ safety.”
Both panelists agreed freelancers are a key part of the industry who often don’t have the resources that staff journalists at large media corporations have. They shared tips on how to get started as freelancers in international news, along with expectations to have from editors regarding pay and safety.
“This is an ongoing conversation industry-wide,” Philips said. “Journalism organizations need to step up and be more responsible for freelance journalists.”
Freelance journalists are being contracted now more than ever, said Philips. The flexibility of a freelancer is critical for busy newsrooms, said Jerreat, adding that freelancing is not going away.
Jerreat and Philips directed the audience to Glimmet.io and Journalism.net, two platforms editors are using to find freelance reporters.
When asked by an attendee what the most sought-after skill is for freelancers, Jerreat emphasized the importance of being multilingual.
Start by freelancing in your community — be aware of what is happening to guide an outlet to important stories. Cultural skills are also a big plus, she said
Press freedom is declining worldwide, directly impacting freelance international reporters, who already do not have the same protections and benefits as staff reporters, Phillips said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said 124 journalists were killed in 2024, the most in one calendar year thus far. Since the beginning of the Oct. 7, 2024, war between Israel and Hamas, the group has found that 237 journalists have been killed.
The industry is lacking in providing training and safety measures for journalists, Philips said. That’s also known as “duty of care.”
“A lot of organizations like to throw that phrase out there because they know that they have to,” Philips said. “[Only] a few of them really understand what that means and even fewer are truly responsive to those three words.”
One of the key ways journalists can stay safe is to know their personal limits. While a journalist is not expected to have a set of multimedia skills and knowledge of social media, it is critical to bring someone with you on an international assignment, Jerreat explained
“It’s always going to be much better if you’ve got someone,” Jerreat said. “Especially when things are tricky, it’s so much better to [have someone] physically watching your back.”