16.3. Staff Welfare
120. Does your Media Outlet's rules and procedures protect against discrimination in the workplace?Yes
If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.Our rules and procedures protect against discrimination in the workplace on any protected ground under applicable law.
121. Does your Media Outlet's rules and procedures support equality of opportunity?Yes
If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.Our rules and procedures support equality of opportunity in recruitment, development and progression.
122. Does your Media Outlet have a safety at work policy, which includes specific protection for journalists working in hostile environments?Yes
If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.Defender Media is committed to protecting the physical, psychological, digital, and cyber security of everyone who works for us—employees, freelancers, contractors, and contributors—including those working in hostile, conflict-affected, or high-risk environments. This policy sets out how we assess, reduce, and respond to risks affecting the safety and wellbeing of our team.
This policy is written for a Ukrainian media organisation whose work routinely involves reporting on defence technology, national security, and developments related to the ongoing war in Ukraine. We recognise that risks cannot always be eliminated; our responsibility is to minimise them as far as reasonably possible and to support those exposed to them.
Defender Media recognises that journalists and contributors may face digital and cyber threats, including phishing attempts, account compromise, unauthorised access to sensitive information, online harassment, and other forms of malicious activity.
To reduce these risks, team members are encouraged to follow basic digital security practices, including:
using strong and unique passwords and password managers where appropriate;
enabling multi-factor authentication on work-related accounts and services;
securely storing and sharing sensitive information and documents;
exercising caution when handling unsolicited communications, links, or attachments;
promptly reporting suspected security incidents or data breaches; and
using secure communication channels when discussing sensitive or confidential matters.
Defender Media is committed to promoting digital security awareness and supporting team members in maintaining safe working practices online.
123. Does your Media Outlet have guidelines to support editorial staff who have been exposed to material of a sensitive or upsetting nature?Yes
If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.We provide support to editorial staff exposed to material of a sensitive or upsetting nature, including workload management, the ability to rotate tasks away from distressing content, and internal editorial debriefing. Staff are encouraged to take breaks when needed and can access professional psychological support if required.
124. Does your Media Outlet have guidelines to support editorial staff who suffered physical or psychological harm in the course of their work?Yes
If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.We provide support to editorial staff who have suffered physical or psychological harm in the course of their work, including access to medical assistance when needed, psychological support through professional counselling services, and internal debriefing with editorial leadership. In addition, staff are encouraged to report safety concerns immediately and may temporarily pause or adjust assignments to ensure their wellbeing.
