Journalists covering the 2020 Democratic National Convention and other national political conventions can prepare for the events through free training sessions over the next two weeks.
The virtual training sessions will be hosted on Zoom between July 28 and Aug. 7 by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the National Press Photographers Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Each session will be offered twice. News media interested in participating can register at rcfp.org/2020conventions.
Attorneys from RCFP and NPPA will lead legal sessions funded in part by the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation. These sessions will cover audio and video recordings, reporting on protests, avoiding arrest, what to do if arrested, local bail procedures and more.
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NPPA and CPJ will lead a session on safety that includes practical tips for keeping journalists safe when reporting from protests. It also will offer preventative measures that can be used to reduce exposure to COVID-19.
CPJ will also lead a digital security session with tips on how to protect against online harassment and doxxing, as well as ways to secure phones, laptops and other equipment while covering events.
Session details are as follows:
Noon – 1 p.m., • Tuesday, July 28 & Tuesday, Aug. 4
Legal training for reporters covering the Democratic National Convention
– Shannon Jankowski, E.W. Scripps Legal Fellow for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press & Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association
Noon – 1 p.m., • Wednesday, July 29 & Wednesday, Aug. 5
Legal training for reporters covering the Republican National Convention
– Sarah Matthews, staff attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press & Mickey Osterreicher, general counsel for the National Press Photographers Association
Noon – 1 p.m., • Thursday, July 30 & Thursday, Aug. 6
Physical Safety training
– Chris Post, photojournalist and safety advisor for the National Press Photographers Association & Colin Pereira, Journalist Safety Specialist for the Committee to Protect Journalists
Noon – 1 p.m., • Friday, July 31 & Thursday Aug. 7
Digital Security training
– Ela Stapley, Safety Technologist for the Committee to Protect Journalists & Maria Salazar-Ferro, Emergencies Director for the Committee to Protect Journalists
