"There is a history to why the challenge of securing safety for journalism has become a prominent issue in many parts of the world. This is partly because of increased attacks on journalists, but it is also a function of global developments that have afforded space for the issue to come to fore as a major concern by the international community – with associated impact on other actors as well. Safety can, and should, be distinguished from other dimensions relevant to journalism – media freedom, pluralism, independence, gender and digital matters. At the same time, attention to safety – within a framework of rights, highlights the interconnections and wider possibilities of work on this subject. Furthermore, because knowledge about the topic is a relatively green-fields opportunity, academic engagement can have real impact. Looking ahead, with intensification of digital dynamics in societies, the issue of safety (affecting both off- and online worlds) is likely to increasingly be a key component in the emerging and broadening ecology of journalistic practice." (Abstract)