Journalists' Awareness of Digital Threats and Strategies for Implementing Digital Security in their Work

Digital Security refers to strategies and tools that can be used to safeguard privacy, and protect your identity, data, properties, and devices from being hacked by an external intruder, be it a malicious malware, a virus or an individual or an institution targeting one’s information.
While technological advancements have forced journalists to work through digital platforms, whether it is to collect and verify information, communicate with sources, or obtain, distribute and store their work electronically, it also makes journalists worry about potential digital risks and hazards. This leads to the need to learn about digital security in order to understand how to control traceability, secure their computers, and provide more privacy and safety for them.
The goal of this study was to identify the mental models of journalists towards potential digital risks, threats and digital security strategies. Generally speaking, what journalists think of the risks or what they think of tools that can provide them with security is not always affirmed by their actions. So, in this research, the mental model refers to journalists' mental awareness of the hazards and future threats expected and their perception of the tools that help them enhance protection and their reflection on practical strategies that they take to protect their safety.
The most significant findings of this study are: journalists are aware of the basic tools that improve their digital security; violation of personal data and the fear of losing privacy is a big concern for journalists; they underline the necessity for digital security training; and the ease of use of the tools is the most common downside that journalists see that may stand in the way of achieving their digital security. Furthermore, digital security methods for other parties, such as sources or coworkers, are unpopular.