Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544866
sagaftra.org | Spring 2026 | SAG-AFTRA 45 REAL LIFE IN REAL TIME SAG-AFTRA BROADCASTERS PRIORITIZE SAFETY IN THE FIELD R eporting the news doesn't come without its obstacles. For SAG-AFTRA broadcasters who find themselves in the field reporting breaking stories live, getting the right angle or an eyewitness's interview brings a level of personal risk — particularly during and these perilous times. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a database established in 2017 to collect and analyze incidents in the field, reported January and February had the highest number of press freedom violations for the first two months of any year. Equipment searches and detainment by law enforcement, as well as physical assaults, are some of the tense situations news reporters experience. But other situations, such as natural disasters or standoffs involving law enforcement, can expose reporters to dangers to life and limb. Truth-telling requires persevering in adverse circumstances. Today's increasingly tense and volatile social and political climate has made broadcast reporting in the United States a more dangerous job than perhaps it has ever been. Here are accounts from five SAG-AFTRA broadcasters of how they stay safe — physically and mentally — so they can continue the important work of informing the public. ALWAYS STAY READY Anar Virji, Field Producer for Al Jazeera English "When I think of safety, I think about what that means for all of us working together. I encourage colleagues to speak up if they have a concern, and I plan as much as I can before we go out. That means advocating for safety and first aid training at work, and then using that to organize before you go on assignment. "Things that I keep in my travel gear include a medical kit, a headlamp in case we lose electricity, and backup batteries to charge electronics. Then I try to think site-specific: Are we going into protests? Is it a hurricane or other weather event? What sort of access will we have to food, water and bathrooms? Will we have cellphone service? These answers come from [having] experience, talking to colleagues and speaking to people in the area. "For protests, I've found that gas masks are incredibly useful safety gear. I also pack an extra foldable duffle bag to put my clothes in if I'm tear-gassed or pepper-sprayed. "For feature stories I've produced, I've traveled to Native Alaskan and Native American villages without hotels and have slept in a school or camped. In those situations, we were "My strategy is always to think long-term and collectively about safety. That makes it easier, rather than thinking of it only when stories [are unfolding]." CLICK HERE for broadcaster safety tips.