• by Ray Schultz , Yesterday

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) recently received a $1.5 million grant from Press Forward to train 3,000 journalists over three years and develop regional safety ambassadors.

The Knight Foundation grant will enable IWMF's Newsroom Safety Across America (NSAA) initiative to train 600 more journalists through next year, and to build a cohort of eight safety experts to provide sustainable, local support. 

Since NSAA's launch in February 2024, it has trained 1,335 journalists across 20 states. 

“Journalists who feel safe and supported, online and in the field, are better able to focus on telling stories that shape our daily lives,” says Marisa Kwiatkowski, director of journalism at Knight Foundation, in a statement. “The IWMF has empowered newsrooms across the country, helping ensure they have the resources to continue serving their communities.”

Of 430 NSAA trainees surveyed on the experience, 89% said it was “extremely or very relevant” to their activities.