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Want to stay safe online? Learn how in our new free course on digital security for journalists

In today’s digital landscape, threats to journalists are everywhere—from phishing and surveillance to device seizures and online harassment. Whether covering conflict, investigating corruption or sharing sensitive information with sources, safeguarding your digital security is crucial to protecting yourself and your work.

That’s why the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas and the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) have joined forces to offer a new free online course: Digital Security for Journalists in Times of Crisis. The course will run from July 7 to Aug. 3, 2025, and is available in English and Spanish.

Over four weeks, you’ll learn how to build practical digital habits that help protect your data, communications and devices — even in high-risk situations. This course is open to journalists, communicators, editors, freelancers, media professionals, nonprofits supporting journalists, as well as journalism students and educators from around the world, particularly those in high-risk environments. No previous cybersecurity experience is required: whether you’re just starting or looking to improve your current practices, this course will help you take meaningful steps to stay safer online.

Instructor Luis Assardo is a journalist and digital security trainer who has worked with Reporters Without Borders, the Holistic Protection Collective and other global organizations supporting journalists at risk. Assardo brings years of hands-on experience helping reporters strengthen their digital safety practices with open-source, mobile-friendly tools.

Digital Security for Journalists in Times of Crisis offers a flexible learning experience through video lectures, interviews, readings, discussions and quizzes. The course’s asynchronous format lets you engage with the materials and complete activities at your own pace, fitting learning into your schedule. Weekly live sessions are also available and recorded for later viewing. A free certificate of completion will be awarded to those who meet the course requirements.

The course material is organized into five modules:

  • Introduction Module | Raising Awareness: Learn the importance of skill development, risk reduction and common cybersecurity attack vectors.
  • Module 1 | Foundations of Digital Security: Explore the basics of digital security, including the current threat landscape, personalized risk assessment and key protections for accounts and personal data.
  • Module 2 | Secure Communication and Safe Online Practices: Learn to use end-to-end encryption for messaging and email, browse safely under censorship or surveillance, and identify phishing and malware attacks to secure your conversations and online presence.
  • Module 3 | Device Security and Data Protection: This module focuses on securing devices and sensitive data through hardening settings, encryption and safe backups.
  • Module 4 | Advanced Practices & Preparing for the Worst: Explore advanced digital security topics such as anonymity, surveillance evasion, and censorship circumvention.

By the end of the course, you’ll know how to assess digital risks, secure your accounts and data, communicate safely with sources, avoid common attacks and respond effectively to threats — all while keeping your reporting and sources protected.

Don’t miss this opportunity — register now at journalismcourses.org. Together, we’ll work on the skills you need to stay secure and protect your stories.

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