At our recent AP Forward webinar, we explored a fast-evolving and often underappreciated threat to journalism: the rise of technological and digital risks that pose additional challenges to press freedom worldwide.
A Landscape of Digital Threats
Executive Editor Julie Pace described how AP teams operate under the assumption that surveillance is constant, particularly when working in authoritarian environments.
“We encourage sensitive conversations to happen in person whenever possible,” she explained, underscoring the vulnerability of digital communication.
AP Associate General Counsel Brian Barrett emphasized the growing impact of online harassment:
“It’s not just noise – it shapes how journalists work, what they’re willing to cover, and how sources interact with them.”
A Network Threat
Beyond individual risks, AP has identified broader patterns: spyware on journalists’ devices, disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting newsrooms, subpoenas targeting confidential sources, and coordinated smear attacks – forming a network, digital front in the fight for press freedom.
A New Era of Defense
Safeguarding journalism in this environment demands more than internal policy. It requires collaborative defense, shared tools, and adaptable legal frameworks that evolve alongside these threats.
Next Steps
To secure journalistic integrity and safety in the digital age, AP will:
- Encourage use of encrypted communication tools for sensitive reporting
- Train and equip journalists with secure practices and digital resilience strategies
- Adapt internal legal protocols to respond to subpoenas and digital interference
- Partner with peer organizations to create collective, cross-industry defenses
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