Field Research

Totem

About This Course

Welcome to Totem’s course on Field Research for journalism! Investigative desk and field research are complementary tools in the field of journalism. They can be conducted independently or in tandem.

In this course we address risks inherent in conducting field investigations in a repressive environment. The course is designed for all knowledge levels to help you learn how to gather firsthand evidence, document events, obtain information from experts and interview local residents.

About Totem

Totem is an online platform that offers interactive courses to learn how to increase digital security and privacy. The optimal user experience is currently on your desktop computer. The aim is to support journalists, human rights defenders and activists use privacy tools and tactics more effectively in their work. Not a journalist? Don’t worry these courses should work for everyone.

Start today and learn how to protect yourself online.

What will you learn?

You will come away from this course understanding:

When you can benefit from field research

How to prepare for field research that includes interviewing

Tips on how to protect yourself and your sources

What to take into account when documenting an event through video or photography

Requirements

None.

Last update

This course was updated in: August 2021

Acknowledgment

Content created with the help of Zamaneh Media as well as several organizations, digital security trainers and online education experts who collaborated during workshops and sprints to co-create this Totem course.