The Levant Media Safety Initiative

Journalists and media organisations operating across the Middle East face a risk environment unlike almost any other region. Political volatility, fragmented authority, constrained medical infrastructure, legal ambiguity and rapidly changing security conditions require more than conventional travel risk management or remote coordination.

The Levant Media Safety Initiative was established to provide regionally grounded media safety, travel risk management and operational support for journalists and media organisations working throughout Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. The initiative is delivered by Stratum Global Risk, a Middle East-based operational resilience, travel risk management and global assistance company with a regional operations centre in Amman, Jordan with operational capability across Beirut, Damascus and Ramallah.

Designed to support responsible journalism, the initiative combines regional expertise, trusted local networks, legal compliance and practical operational support in environments where preparation, contextual understanding and responsible decision-making are essential.

Trusted Regional Operational Partner

Stratum Global Risk is trusted by many of the world’s leading global assistance and response organisations as a regional operational partner across the Middle East. Operating from our bilingual Operations Centre in Amman, Jordan, we combine global operational capability with specialist regional expertise to support organisations working in some of the world’s most operationally demanding environments.

Unlike fly-in consultancy models, our support is built around permanent regional capability, trusted local relationships and practical operational delivery.

Purpose and Approach

The Levant Media Safety Initiative recognises that journalist safety cannot be effectively managed through generic risk assessments, remote coordination or short-term deployments. Instead, successful safety outcomes depend upon preparation, informed decision-making and access to trusted regional capability before an incident occurs.

The initiative enables journalists and media organisations to operate responsibly by providing practical support grounded in the realities of the operating environment rather than theoretical risk models.

Guiding Principles

The initiative operates according to a clear set of principles designed to protect both journalists and the integrity of their work.

Editorial Independence

Safety support is provided without influence over editorial judgement, reporting or sources.

Legality & Compliance

All support is delivered lawfully and in accordance with applicable local and international regulations.

Low-Profile Operations

Protective measures are designed to reduce visibility and unnecessary exposure, prioritising discretion over deterrence.

Informed Decision-Making

Journalists and commissioning organisations receive clear, practical information to support responsible operational decisions.

Do No Harm

All support activities are designed to minimise additional risk to journalists, local staff, contributors and communities.

Who We Support

The initiative supports:

• International and regional media organisations

• Freelance journalists

• Documentary film crews

• Broadcasters

• Investigative journalists

• Media safety NGOs

• Research organisations

• Universities conducting field research

• Donors and foundations supporting journalism

Media Safety Support

The Levant Media Safety Initiative focuses on practical operational support rather than purely advisory services. Support may include pre-deployment planning, operational risk briefings, movement planning, medical preparedness, travel risk management, communications planning, local coordination and emergency response arrangements.

Where appropriate, Stratum Global Risk can also provide ongoing travel risk management and assistance through Global Traveller, our annual membership service providing Arabic and English support, travel intelligence and 24/7 operational assistance for journalists operating internationally.

Training & Capacity Building

Preparation remains one of the most effective methods of reducing operational risk. The initiative supports journalists, editors and commissioning organisations through specialist hostile environment awareness, medical preparedness and operational safety training tailored specifically to the realities of working across the Middle East.

Stratum Global Risk currently delivers the region’s only institutionally credible and internationally accredited Hostile Environment & International First Aid Responder (HEFAR) programme from its training centre in Amman, Jordan.

Governance, Ethics & Accountability

The Levant Media Safety Initiative operates within a clearly defined governance framework prioritising accountability, transparency and ethical engagement. Support activities remain fully auditable whilst respecting the legal, ethical and editorial responsibilities unique to journalism.

Partnerships & Engagement

We welcome engagement from:

• International media organisations

• Broadcasters

• Media safety NGOs

• International donors

• Academic institutions

• Journalism training providers

• Documentary production companies

Contact

For media safety enquiries, partnership discussions or operational support relating to journalism in the Middle East, please contact:

operations@stratumlevant.com