News Managers HEFAT Awareness Course – Overview

The News Managers HEFAT Awareness Course is an 8-hour training designed for newsroom personnel, editors, directors, and assignment managers who oversee journalists working in hazardous or unpredictable environments. This course provides a foundational understanding of the threats and challenges reporters face while covering civil unrest, natural disasters, crime scenes, and other dangerous assignments—both domestically and abroad.

Through guided discussion, real-world case studies, and practical planning exercises, participants will learn how to better support field teams, assess risk, and integrate safety considerations into editorial decision-making. The course emphasizes the critical role managers play in newsroom safety culture and equips them with the knowledge to uphold their duty of care to staff.

Topics Covered:

• Overview of hostile environments and common field hazards
  
• Understanding the physical, digital, and psychological risks to journalists
  
• Pre-assignment planning and risk assessment fundamentals
  
• Tools for supporting staff before, during, and after high-risk coverage
  
• Responsibilities in duty of care, incident response, and legal considerations
  
• Emergency protocols and managing communication during unfolding crises
  
• Introduction to trauma first aid and limitations of untrained responders
  
• Recognizing signs of stress, trauma, and burnout among field staff
  
• Building a newsroom culture that prioritizes safety alongside editorial mission
  

By the end of the course, newsroom leaders will be better prepared to make informed decisions that protect their teams, reduce organizational risk, and support responsible, resilient journalism.