External Action
Do
Default to context-specific risk assessments before contact or publicity; protect sources and partners’ identities.
Grant visibility exemptions liberally where branding could harm safety or credibility; decouple media-support from EU public diplomacy.
Fund organisational security & psycho-social care; include rapid/emergency funds for relocations, legal help, digital incident response.
Be flexible: permit objective revisions when the context shifts (e.g., LGBTQ+ coverage in hostile environments).
Avoid
Public association that can endanger journalists (e.g., photo-ops, embassy events, sensitive meetings).
Don’t
Don’t invite media partners into high-risk political spaces without protection plans; don’t “signal” partners in ways regimes can exploit.
Don’t enforce “one-size-fits-all” EU comms or rigid workplans when inaction or inflexibility equals harm (recognise inaction as harm).
Best practice / How
Delegations to keep a harm-log & waiver register (when visibility/data disclosure was waived and why).
Establish secure feedback channels with local partners; schedule regular, coordinated donor exchanges so implementers don’t face conflicting asks.
Case studies/examples:
Investigative journalismSIDA & Reporters ShieldQuotes:
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