Publication details
Navigating Safety in “Safe” Countries : A Cross-Country Analysis of Investigative Journalists' Safety and Security Practices
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journalism Practice |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17512786.2025.2598680 |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2025.2598680 |
| Keywords | Czech Republic; Finland; Estonia; investigative journalists; mental models; safety; security; threats |
| Description | The safety of journalists should never be taken for granted, as evidenced by the killings of journalists even in countries highly ranked in the World Press Freedom Index or the use of surveillance spyware like Pegasus against journalists worldwide. This study shifts focus from “critical cases” to more “typical cases”, concentrating on countries generally considered safe, which is crucial, as perceived safety can lead to underestimating risks. Based on 35 interviews with leading investigative journalists in Finland, Estonia, and the Czech Republic, it examines their risk perceptions, safety and security practices, and barriers to adopting these practices. Findings indicate that while the journalists recognise the inherent risks of their profession, the lack of recent serious incidents in their home countries has fostered a sense of safety and reduced motivation to adopt more advanced practices and measures. Their utilisation varies, depending on journalists' personal threat perceptions and risk management approaches. In this respect, we identified three mental models: preventive caution and mitigation, acceptance and suppression, and fatalism. Key obstacles include the lack of newsroom support and systematic training, which journalists overcome through solidarity and cooperation within newsrooms, across media organisations, and even on a cross-border level. |