Module 4: Build trust through honesty, not promises

Welcome to Module 4 of the Sensitive Source Safety Training.

Abstract: Working with sensitive sources always carries legal risks for both the source and those reporting their disclosures. This course equips you with a clear overview of protection frameworks for journalists’ sources and whistleblowers while preparing you to navigate difficult conversations with your sources on these limited protections and your editorial process.

About this module: 
From employment retaliation to criminal prosecution, sources and whistleblowers face a wide spectrum of legal consequences and those who publish their stories must also be aware of their own exposure. What protections do whistleblower laws actually provide, and where are the gaps? How do shield laws and journalistic privilege apply in practice, and when do they fail? How to explain these to my source? This module answers these questions and helps you practice trust building discussion with sources through simulations.

What do I learn? 

You will learn how to:

• Understand whistleblower protection laws and the journalist privilege and their limitations
• Understand legal vulnerabilities of the sources
• Communicate honestly about the editorial process, the publication timeline and the protection limitations.

What do I need to know:
This module is designed for journalists who work with sensitive sources and whistleblowers. No prior knowledge or training is required.

About the teachers:This module is presented by Delphine Halgand-Mishra, the Founding Executive Director of The Signals Network (TSN). TSN former chief of staff Kate Miller created these modules. Since 2017, The Signals Network has provided support and protection to hundreds of sensitive sources.

About The Signals Network: The Signals Network is a nonprofit organization that supports whistleblowers who disclose information in the public interest. It provides legal, psychological, physical safety, and advocacy assistance to help protect sources and amplify their disclosures.

About the Reynolds Journalism Institute: The Reynolds Journalism Institute is a journalism support organization based out of the University of Missouri that empowers journalists with knowledge, tools and funding to strengthen journalism through practical innovation.