Reporting the news today often comes with risks that go far beyond the story itself. Across Southeast Asia, journalists are facing rising levels of gender-based online harassment, intimidation, and hate speech.
The Centre for Journalism and Trauma Asia Pacific (CJT), formerly known as the Dart Centre Asia Pacific, has supported journalists and media organizations that report on violence, crisis, and tragedy, helping them understand trauma, report on it ethically, and protect their own well-being since 2004. CJT combines training, fellowships, resources, and one-to-one support for journalists in the Asia Pacific region.
To contribute to this ongoing work, communications consultancy Vero has entered into a collaboration with CJT. Through this collaboration, Vero will provide pro bono communications and implementation support to assist CJT with the “Not Alone. Not Silenced” campaign, which includes a fellowship on digital safety and resilience for journalists at its core.
“Journalists play a pivotal role in society—they keep us informed; they investigate stories and uncover truths that might otherwise be hidden,” said Amantha Perera, Director and Consultant at CJT. “But their job also exposes them to danger, and with the expansion of digital spaces, journalists increasingly face targeted harassment, intimidation, and hate online. CJT’s role is to stand alongside them, offer support and practical tools to navigate these threats. And we see this new partnership with Vero as a way to bring our work into the conversations happening within the media and tech ecosystems.”
Funded by UNESCO’s International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) 2025, the fellowship will bring together 15 journalists and information specialists from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to take part in a 10-month fellowship that will give journalists the tools to better manage the impact of online hate speech and threats.
The fellowship will run in three phases: an online introductory webinar in March, followed by an in-person workshop in Bangkok from May 8 to 11, and five months of remote mentorship. By the end of the program in October, participants are expected to develop tangible resources to assist journalists from the Mekong region to identify and mitigate hate speech. The resources will be translated so that journalists across participating countries can use them in their daily work.
Perera added that a “digital flak jacket” will also be introduced to participants. This provides tools for journalists and information specialists to develop specific, individualized interventions to counter TFGBV, hate speech, and other digital dangers in their own contexts.
“Journalists today are working under increasing pressure, both professionally and emotionally,” said Nitikarn Ladasathean, Media Relations Director at Vero in Thailand. “Through this collaboration with the Centre for Journalism and Trauma Asia Pacific (CJT), Vero aims to contribute to a more sustainable media ecosystem by supporting journalists beyond just the stories they produce.”
“Not Alone. Not Silenced gives journalists skills, support, and space to deal with trauma and challenges,” said Jonie Pielago, Media Relations Manager at Vero in the Philippines. Journalists are at the frontline of fighting misinformation, and should have the protection they need to do their work. We hope initiatives like this reach the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia, where the press continues to come under pressure.”
This new partnership with CJT is part of Vero’s long-standing commitment to supporting journalists and media in the region. The consultancy has been working with EB Impact in Singapore since 2024, enabling fearless storytelling and creative reporting on climate change, greenwashing, and societal inequalities.
Applications for the ‘Not Alone. Not Silenced’ fellowship are open until February 17, 2026. and are for journalists and information specialists from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam who are dealing with tech-related threats. Those interested can sign up through this application form.
