Media Safety in the Digital Age is a 2.5-year initiative led by Digitally Right to improve the digital resilience of journalists and newsrooms across Bangladesh. Against a backdrop of political transition and escalating digital threats, the project aims to equip media workers with practical skills, safety protocols, and sustained support to navigate a hostile online environment.
The project operates through Digitally Right’s Digital Safety School platform, offering regular hands-on training to journalists. In its first quarter, three trainings were delivered to 34 journalists from 18 districts, with 30% female participation. Sessions focused on password hygiene, encryption, VPNs, anti-surveillance tools, and verification techniques. Feedback highlighted strong demand for longer, residential formats and district-level outreach.
To ensure ongoing support, a Bangla-language resource center was launched with 20 digital safety guides, receiving over 1,200 views. A WhatsApp-based community of 100 journalists was formed to share resources and provide real-time guidance. A support desk—staffed by one male and one female expert—handled initial requests on password recovery and secure browsing.
The project is also laying the groundwork to introduce tailored digital safety protocols in six media houses. A draft MoU and framework for newsroom collaboration have been prepared and will be rolled out in the coming quarter.
This project addresses urgent gaps in journalist safety, especially for local and female reporters, and seeks to institutionalize digital protection in Bangladesh’s media ecosystem.
