Journalists covering elections and political rallies in the U.S. in recent years have been subjected to online and verbal harassment and even physical assault, CPJ has found.
This resource was originally published on cpj.org.
The United States is scheduled to hold presidential and congressional elections on November 3, 2020. Journalists covering elections and political rallies in the U.S. in recent years have been subjected to online and verbal harassment and even physical assault, CPJ has found.
Mitigate digital, physical, and psychological risk
- Read, bookmark, and share CPJ’s U.S. election safety kit | En español
- Fill out a risk assessment form (learn more about risk assessments here) | En español
Protect your digital safety and security
- Learn how to remove your personal data from the internet | En español
- Learn how to protect against targeted online attacks | En español
Find legal resources for journalists
- Learn about journalists’ legal rights in CPJ’s U.S. legal guide | En español
- Contact the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press legal hotline at 1-800-336-4243, hotline@ rcfp.org, or online here
Additional Resources
Safety advisory: Covering the coronavirus pandemic | En español
Safety advisory: Covering U.S. protests over police violence
U.S. Press Freedom Tracker Blog: Special Election Section
Acquire a press pass through the Frontline Freelance Register (available to freelancers) or the National Press Photographers Association (available to visual journalists)
International Women’s Media Fund United States Journalism Emergency Fund Application
More safety questions? Ask a CPJ expert
CPJ’s safety experts provide information and support to all journalists, including freelancers and media workers, around the world. They host free information sessions with individual journalists or newsrooms on risk assessment, physical safety, and digital security. Please complete one of the forms below.
Webinars: Covering the 2020 U.S. election
Webinar Recording: Physical Safety Workshop with Chris Post and Colin Pereira
Webinar Recording: Digital Safety Workshop with Ela Stapley
