Recommendations

Cast your net wide when advertising roles. Do not assume general call outs on social media will reach this target audience.

Take the time to reach out to specialist organisations who work with refugee communities. They can help target your recruitment call. However do appreciate that these organisations are often small and under resourced.

Be flexible during the recruitment process. Important documents and certificates will have been lost in the course of the journalist’s displacement and they may need more time to contact referees.

Do a risk analysis for both your organisation and the journalist. Might the journalist have been targeted by authorities in their home country? Does your organisation have regional offices or partnerships that might be affected? You will both need to be confident that any risks have been mitigated.

Offer access to security training. Does the journalist need help with cybersecurity or any other skills so that they can work safely?

Provide a comprehensive induction to your organisation. This will help the journalist to learn more about the organisation's culture and working practices.

Organise peer mentorship. Each individual is different, and nothing is more effective in promoting mutual understanding than professional support given via one-to-one conversations.

Have an open dialogue about interests and focus. Don’t assume the journalist only wants to produce work about their home country, or their religious or cultural identity: this can be limiting.

Recommend professional development or short journalism and language courses. Although the journalist may have significant professional experience, this may not translate directly to established practice in your workplace. Advanced English courses might also be necessary.

Be sensitive to trauma. People are resilient, but displacement is a tough experience. Individuals may need support in overcoming a loss of confidence, or managing depression and PTSD. Global news events may trigger painful memories, or fears for friends and relatives in the affected areas.

Consider partnering with a specialist trauma therapist. For instance, a professional who can offer support in different languages, or from non-Western cultural perspectives.

Be mindful of different religious and cultural days. And where appropriate, provide a quiet space for prayer.

Organise team social events. These will help all staff to share information about their cultural lives, food and customs. It will also help displaced journalists practise their English.