SAG-AFTRA Safety Summit Report

SAG-AFTRA hosted a national Journalist Safety Summit on October 8, bringing together journalists, employer representatives and public safety officials with a shared commitment and intention to find concrete ways to support journalists in safely doing their jobs. 

Every day, broadcast journalists report from crime scenes, natural disasters, and war zones. They cover political unrest, public health emergencies, and mass casualty events that often put their own safety in jeopardy. We were all reminded of the many dangers journalists face every day. The conversation focused on building a partnership dedicated to ensuring the protection of journalists who cover these tragic events and work in often violent and unsafe environments. 

As a result of the Summit, the SAG-AFTRA national Broadcasting Steering Committee will develop a safety action guide targeted at raising safety standards and fostering better communication between journalists, station management, law enforcement and SAG-AFTRA. We’re excited to put the lessons and best practices learned today to work.

SAG-AFTRA stands with people everywhere who respect freedom of the press and the role of journalists in bringing crucial information on critically important events to the public.  

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.