Surviving the story: hands-on infosec for journalists under threat

Journalists working on sensitive investigations face a rapidly escalating array of threats—from targeted digital intrusions to physical surveillance, coordinated online harassment, and government attempts to compromise devices or expose sources. For investigative reporters who rely on open-source techniques, the stakes can be even higher: their digital footprint is larger, their work sometimes requires that they engage with investigative targets directly, and they often directly challenge powerful actors.
This hands-on workshop is led by two journalists who know these risks not in theory, but through lived experience. Robert Flummerfelt, an investigative journalist and OSINT practitioner, was forced to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo after his reporting drew intense retaliation and surveillance. Manisha Ganguly, an investigative reporter and OSINT specialist, has worked with journalists in the most high-risk conflict zones and surveillance states. Both continue to break major cross-border stories despite sustained physical and digital targeting.
Drawing from their frontline experience, this workshop offers practical, immediately usable information security and countersurveillance skills designed specifically by journalists, for journalists—with a focus on operational realities rather than technical abstractions.
We will cover:
> How OSINT workflows expose journalists to unique digital risks—and how to mitigate them
> Recognizing signs of physical and digital surveillance in hostile environments
> Building a personalized threat model grounded in real investigative practice
> Establishing secure and--where necessary--anonymous communications with sensitive sources and whistleblowers
> Protecting devices, data, and investigative materials across borders
> Safe handling of leaked documents, open-source evidence, and sensitive archives
> Responding to phishing attempts, targeted spyware, coordinated harassment, and doxxing
> Designing an operational security plan for investigations likely to attract backlash
Participants will engage with interactive scenarios inspired by real cases from Congo, Palestine, Ethiopia, Russia, Gaza, and other high-risk reporting contexts. The session emphasizes decision-making under pressure, secure investigative workflows, and practical defensive techniques suited to journalists working with OSINT and digital evidence.
At a time when authoritarian tactics and digital repression are on the rise, this workshop equips reporters with the tools to stay safe, protect their sources, and continue producing high-impact investigations—even when under threat.