A two-day training “First Line of Defense – Journalists’ Safety in the Workplace” was organized by the Association for Responsible and Sustainable Development (UZOR) and the Society of Professional Journalists of Montenegro, with the support of the European Union, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, and the Ministry of Public Administration. The training took place on September 10–11, 2025, and gathered journalists from various newsrooms as well as young media professionals, with the aim of strengthening knowledge and skills necessary for preserving personal and professional safety in challenging working environments.
The second day of the training focused on advanced safety strategies and planning. Participants analyzed approaches to covering high-risk events—protests, political rallies, field reporting from conflict zones, and natural disasters. Special attention was given to self-assessment of personal safety, developing protective habits, and applying specialized tools that can assist in crisis situations. Trainer Köhler emphasized the importance of preparation and planning before going into the field, stressing that prevention and anticipation of potential threats are key elements of journalists’ professional responsibility.
Journalists in Montenegro and the wider region are increasingly facing threats, pressures, and violence in their work. The lack of institutional protection and support further underlines the importance of empowering journalists to recognize risks themselves, respond adequately, and use available safety tools. Trainings of this kind contribute to building resilience within the media community and creating a safer professional environment.
A special contribution to the training was provided by trainer Clemens Köhler, an internationally recognized expert on the safety of media professionals, who shared theoretical knowledge and practical experience from work in crisis and high-risk contexts. It was emphasized that journalists’ safety is not only an individual, but also a collective responsibility, and that understanding the basic principles of safety is the first step toward long-term protection of media workers.
During the first module, participants became familiar with the fundamental principles of safety, through a discussion on the most common threats and challenges faced by journalists—from threats via social networks, to physical attacks in the field, and institutional pressures. Work focused on contextualizing these threats and analyzing concrete case studies.
In the afternoon session, within the second module, the emphasis was placed on practical exercises in risk recognition and behavior in risky situations. Participants, working in groups, discussed real-life scenarios from Montenegrin and regional media environments, exchanging experiences and proposing solutions. The exercises were designed to encourage teamwork, develop critical thinking, and provide tools for quick response in emergency situations.
The training is part of the project “Effective Prevention and Protection of Journalists in Montenegro”, jointly implemented by the Association for Responsible and Sustainable Development (UZOR) and the Society of Professional Journalists of Montenegro (DPNCG), in cooperation with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, with financial support from the European Union (EU) through the EU Delegation to Montenegro and the Ministry of Public Administration.
