The Chicago Headline Club Foundation (CHCF) is pleased to announce a $25,000 Field Foundation grant to expand safety resources and training for journalists navigating today’s increasingly unpredictable reporting environment. The initiative is designed to meet the urgent needs of reporters, photographers and freelancers covering protests, domestic conflict and other high-risk assignments.
Journalists increasingly find themselves covering protests, public safety incidents and law-enforcement activity, including immigration enforcement operations, where conditions can change quickly. This funding will support practical training, rights education and safety tools designed to help journalists prepare for these assignments and operate responsibly in the field.
What’s Ahead
Thanks to this grant, the Foundation, working with the Headline Club, will launch a series of initiatives designed to enhance journalist safety and protect press rights. Planned programs include:
Know Your Rights Training for Journalists
- A webinar led by experienced media attorneys, covering protest reporting, interactions with law enforcement, arrest scenarios, equipment seizure and digital security.
Domestic Conflict Training for Journalists
- An intensive, in-person training in Chicago for those covering protests, civil unrest and other high-riskassignments. Two-day training scheduled for March 23-24 in Chicago.
- All training is open to writers, photographers, videographers and other working journalists.
Who Should Apply and Attend
Independent journalists, freelancers and photographers with limited organizational resources are especially encouraged to apply for fully sponsored access to the training, free of charge.
News organizations interested in participating are invited to contact the Foundation for training opportunities.
How to Get Involved
To express your interest in upcoming training — or to involve your newsroom — please fill out our short interest form:
About the Essential Equipment Fund
The CHCF’s Essential Equipment Fund provides direct financial support to journalists for safety and first aid equipment needed for field reporting. The fund prioritizes freelancers and independent journalists, helping reduce financial barriers so they can work more safely in high-risk reporting environments.
Apply for an Essential Equipment Fund grant.
Donate to keep journalists independent and safe.
Your contributions are also welcome at:
119 S. Western Ave. Unit 1 #549
Chicago, IL 60612