Applications Open for Exiled Media Editor Safety Cohort Training Program.
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 10
The ACOS Alliance invites applications for its first Editor Safety Cohort Training Program for Exiled Media taking place in April and May 2026. Up to fifteen free places are on offer to editors working for media organisations operating in exile.
This program is designed specifically for the needs of editors working for exiled media, whose commissioning and editorial decisions are shaped by cross-border operations, distance from newsrooms, and heightened risks for local journalists, freelancers and local sources. In addition to structured training, the cohort emphasises peer learning, recognising that editors in exile bring valuable experience and expertise that can benefit others in similar contexts.
The training will be tailored to safety priorities and operational realities of exiled media editors, informed by participants’ own experiences and situations.
Guided by a safety trainer, the cohort will gather together weekly around the ACOS and WAN-IFRA online course The Fundamentals of Safe Commissioning. The training will focus on strengthening safe commissioning practices, reducing harm, and building working habits and protocols that protect journalists and contributors, while also safeguarding their own own wellbeing as editors making high-stakes decisions under pressure.
Trainer:
The cohort will be led by an experienced journalist and senior editor who has spent years reporting from, and commissioning work in, closed societies where independent journalism carries severe and unpredictable consequences. Her work focuses on practical safety, duty of care, and supporting editors navigating cross-border risk.
What You’ll Get
Practical tools for safe commissioning, with a strong focus on journalist and source protection
Safety mapping exercises tailored to real cross-border editorial workflows
Clear guidance on transnational repression and shared authoritarian tactics
Mental health and trauma-aware basics for editors managing people under pressure
Peer learning with editors covering different regions
A small, trusted network of editors facing similar responsibilities
How the Program Works
The program will run weekly for four weeks from April 20th to May 11th 2026 every Monday as follows: April 20th (60 mins) and then April 27th, May 4th and May 11th (up to 90 mins) at 09:00 am ET / 3:00pm CET / 9pm ICT, Convert to your local time zone here.
Participants will also need to make time to complete the required stages of The Fundamentals of Safe Commissioning online course (around 3-5 hours, including practical exercises and self-reflection) and attend a 60 minute individual coaching session at the end of the program. All participants will receive a certificate once they complete the online course.
The deadline for applications is 17 March 2026.
A more detailed weekly overview and breakdown of the training can be found on the application form below.
