2026 Resources for Newsrooms: Essential Tools to Support Journalists

Essential Tools to Support Journalists

‍

Journalism is more demanding than ever. Find the resources you need to stay safe, informed, and supported—whether legally, digitally, or physically—in this comprehensive guide.

‍

Legal 

‍

• Projourn: Access pro bono attorneys trained in pre-publication review and access to public records.
• Lawyers for Reporters: Independent news publishers across the United States can access pro bono legal services for corporate and operational matters, and newsroom counseling. 
• Acos Alliance - Legal Assistance Resource: A list of organizations that provide resources, advice, support and legal assistance to freelance journalists.
• Committee to Protect Journalists - Legal Resources for Journalists: CPJ has assembled a series of resources intended to help journalists and newsrooms better prepare for or mitigate threats of legal harassment and action.
• Reporters Committee Legal Hotline: Journalists can use the Reporters Committee’s Legal Hotline to ask for assistance with a wide variety of media law and press freedom issues, including routine newsgathering questions, responding to legal issues, and in times of crisis. Check out this guide to using the hotline for more information. 
• Thompson Reuters Foundation - Legal Service for Independent Media: A wide range of free legal services and resources to support independent media around the world.
• PEN America - Legal Resources for Writers & Journalists: A list of organizations that offer legal advice and services, in some cases pro bono, for U.S. based writers and journalists experiencing online harassment.
• The Canadian Association of Journalists - Legal Advocacy: Support for journalists in need of immediate help or media outlets looking for longer term support. 
• Minnesota Journalism Center - Safety, legal and resilience resources for journalists covering the federal surge in Minnesota: The Minnesota Journalism Center has put together a collection of useful resources from its programming and training partners around the world, including on legal, physical safety, risk assessment, mental health, and digital safety.

‍

Insurance

‍

• ‍Institute for Nonprofit News - Why media liability insurance is key to making sure your newsroom continues to exist

• Media Insurance Assistance: INN has established relationships with multiple leading providers of insurance for media and nonprofit organizations,
• Association of Healthcare Journalists - What freelancers need to know about media liability insurance
• Society of Professional Journalists - Insurance considerations for freelance journalists

‍

Digital and Physical Safety 

‍

• The James W.  Foley Journalist Safety Guide: The Foley Foundation has developed journalist safety curricula for both undergraduate and graduate schools in order to better prepare future journalists for their profession.

• Freedom of the Press Foundation: The nonprofit organization builds secure communications tools used by many of the world’s top investigative news organizations, teaches journalists how to keep themselves and their sources safe in the digital age, and monitors and documents press freedom violations in the U.S.
• Indivisible - Safety, Security, and Digital Preparedness for a Second Trump Administration: A guide for event planning, physical safety, digital security and online privacy.
• Center for News, Technology and Innovation - Journalists & Cyber Threats: A primer on digital security of the press and protecting against cyber threats
• Journalism Institute National Press Club - Digital Security: How journalists can protect themselves online: From online harassment to doxxing, journalists face increasing digital security threats as a direct result of their work. The Institute reached out to PEN America for a primer on digital safety, tips and resources. 
• Unifor Media Council - Confronting Harassment in Journalism: A step-by-step guide for journalists facing harassment on documenting an incident, gathering information and prevention.  
• Over Zero: An organization founded to strengthen local violence prevention efforts through leveraging communication-based tools.
• PEN America - Digital Safety Snacks: A library of step-by-step videos to help you defend yourself against online abuse from PEN America, the Online News Association, and the International Women’s Media Foundation. 
• PEN America - Online Harassment Field Manual: Strategies for how to defend yourself and others, written in guidance with and for those disproportionately impacted by online abuse: writers, journalists, artists, and activists who identify as women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQIA+.
• Committee to Protect Journalists: CPJ provides short-term, emergency support to working journalists and media workers following an incident related to their journalistic work. Support includes financial and non-financial assistance.
• Committee to Protect Journalists - U.S. Journalist Safety Kit: This guide is designed to help newsrooms and journalists think about and manage physical and digital risk when it comes to covering assignments in the United States.

‍

Mental Health

‍

• International Center for Journalists - Mental Health and Journalism Toolkit: A collection of resources to address many different aspects of the issue, from post-traumatic stress disorder to digital wellness.
• Journalism Forum - Six steps to protect newsroom mental health
• Journalist Trauma Support Network - Resources for Journalists Seeking Therapy: A directory of therapists trained to work with journalists and an emergency hotline. 
• American Press Institute - Journalists and mental health: A collection of insights, tips and intelligence for a challenged profession. 
• Society of Professional Journalists - SPJ Toolbox: This page features resources for journalists with mental health needs and also links for covering mental health.
• Society of Editors - Mental Health in the Newsroom: A list of common resources that journalists can turn to – whether it is seeking personal help or for professional guidance on covering a news story relating to mental health.

‍

Reporting and Editing

‍

• International Center for Journalists - Reporting on Refugee Communities Toolkit
• Poynter - 6 ways to prepare for a relentless news cycle as President Trump takes office
• Global Investigative Journalism Network - Investigating US Government — and Trump Administration — Influence in Your Country: The following tools are designed to help journalists outside the US understand how their countries are impacted.
• The Objective - “We have collective power”: Advice for journalists on covering the next Trump presidency: Movement journalists and journalists who have previously reported news under Trump’s first term urge the importance of community over defeatism. There’s a list of recommended resources for organizing and community, framing and history, and training at the end of the article. 
• The Signals Network - How to work safely with sensitive sources: The training program will be accessible for free online in early 2026 and will focus on the psychological, digital and legal aspects of the journalist–source relationship. Over five modules, journalists will receive a concrete toolbox and practical advice on how to engage with sources.

‍

Disinformation

‍

• International Center for Journalists - Disarming Disinformation Toolkit
• PEN America - Facts Forward, A Journalist’s Guide to Combating Disinformation

‍

Emergency Support

‍

• Canadian Association of Journalists - Emergency Support Fund for Canadian Journalists: The CAJ is able to provide micro-grants up to $500 for acute support needed to cover short-term expenses related to threats and crises caused by one’s work as a journalist.
• Journalists in Distress (JiD) Network: The JiD is a network of media freedom organisations which provide direct assistance to journalists and media workers who are at risk because of their work.
• Free Press Unlimited - Emergency and Legal Support: Free Press Unlimited offers support to media professionals in distress with emergency assistance, legal support, and safety advice through Reporters Respond.
• Canadian Journalists for Free Expression - Journalists in Distress Fund: CJFE's Journalists in Distress program provides humanitarian assistance to journalists around the world whose lives and well-being are threatened because of their work.
• Global Investigative Journalism Network - Emergency Aid for Journalists: This guide is to help journalists navigate the dozens of organizations that provide emergency support to colleagues in danger.
• Grants for Journalists: Grants for Journalists is a new hub for journalism funding. The upcoming site (launching in March) pairs independent journalists, staff reporters and newsrooms with funding opportunities. Journalist Monica Williams is building the website as part of her 2025-'26 Reynolds Journalism Institute fellowship at the Missouri School of Journalism. Here's another list of emergency grants to assist journalists in crisis compiled by Williams.

‍

Press Freedom

‍

• Canada Press Freedom Project: A hub for information and education surrounding freedom of the press issues in Canada.
• U.S. Press Freedom Tracker: A database of press freedom incidents in the United States — everything from arrests of journalists and the seizure of their equipment to assaults and interrogations at the U.S. border. The Press Freedom Tracker documents incidents across the country, involving national, state and local authorities.