CFP: Symposium on digital safety issues faced by journalists 

28th March 2023 

Online Symposium by the Journalism Safety Research Network (JSRN) hosted at the Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) 

Deadline for abstracts: 10 March 2023

The Journalism Safety Research Network (JSRN), hosted by the Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) in the Department of Journalism Studies at the University Sheffield, is hosting a series of online symposiums.

Following the conclusion of the academic consultation on occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on Journalism Safety and the Issue of Impunity (UNPA), the Global Academic Community (GAC) highlighted the importance of hosting events to exchange knowledge on journalism safety and issues in regions across the globe.

The GAC recognised that there were particular issues that posed significant challenges of relevance to the UNPA and therefore needed to be studied in order to be understood in their origin, evolution, range and type as well as their significance both present and future in awareness of long-standing research. These issues included: digital safety; gender-specific safety issues; workplace safety issues; improving monitoring; understanding impunity; and the weaponisation of the law.

The JSRN serves to facilitate the exchange of ideas, publications and networking opportunities through conferences, seminars and workshops as well as the development of research agendas and policy proposals. In the first of a series of one day online symposiums focusing on these issues, the JSRN is inviting presentations on digital safety threats faced by journalists. Digital safety includes, but is not limited to:

  • Online harassment of journalists

  • Online surveillance (by both state and non-state actors)

  • Digital shutdowns (by both state and non-state actors)

  • Lack of online training on best practices

The online symposium will provide a chance for academics and civil society organisations to come together to discuss digital safety threats and research surrounding them. The symposium is aimed at understanding digital safety issues that journalists face and devising solutions as to how these issues can be best tackled.

Please send abstracts of 250-300 words, including a bio of ca. 100 words to Dr Gemma Horton (gemma.horton@sheffield.ac.uk) by 10 March 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by 14 March 2023.