Educators
For Journalism Educators
A toolkit your students will actually use. 243 tools evaluated, 221 are free, and the evaluation methodology doubles as a teaching rubric.
Three assignments, one semester
Drop these into your syllabus. Each builds on the last — from diagnostic to analytical to applied.
Week 2: Digital Security Diagnostic
Students take the Fieldwork quiz (8 questions, 5 minutes). They get a personalized security score and tool recommendations. Use results to benchmark the class and start a discussion about digital hygiene.
Learning outcome: Students identify gaps in their own digital security practices.
Week 7: Tool Evaluation
Each student picks a tool NOT in the Fieldwork directory and evaluates it using the published methodology as a rubric. They assess encryption, ownership, data jurisdiction, and write an editorial take. Fieldwork's existing evaluations are the model.
Learning outcome: Students evaluate digital tools against security and editorial criteria.
Week 12: Beat-Specific Tool Comparison
Students pick a reporting beat (investigative, local government, data journalism) and compare two competing tools for that beat. They recommend one with evidence, mitigations for the other, and a threat-model justification. See Fieldwork's comparison pages for the format.
Learning outcome: Students recommend appropriate tools for specific reporting scenarios with evidence-based justification.
Learning objectives
Mapped to ACEJMC professional values and competencies standard.
- ✓ Evaluate digital tools against security, privacy, and editorial criteria
- ✓ Identify appropriate tools for specific reporting scenarios and threat models
- ✓ Assess corporate ownership, funding models, and data jurisdiction as factors in tool selection
- ✓ Apply practical security mitigations to protect sources, data, and communications
- ✓ Communicate tool recommendations with evidence-based justification
91% of tools are free
221 of 243 tools in the directory are free or open-source. No student budgets required, no IT approval needed.
For student newsrooms
Canva, Otter.ai, Datawrapper, Google Docs, Descript, OBS Studio — the tools they'll use at their first job.
Browse free tools →For reporting coursework
Signal, Dangerzone, KeePassXC, Tor Browser, SecureDrop — the tools for investigative and security-focused courses.
Browse security tools →82 grants, fellowships, and programs
Fieldwork tracks 100 programs for journalists. 82 are relevant for students and educators — fellowships, grants, training programs, and free tools.
Browse programs →243
tools evaluated
221
free or open-source
82
programs for students
$0
cost to use Fieldwork
Bring Fieldwork to your classroom
Book a 20-minute walkthrough for your class, request a guest lecture (virtual, free), or just ask questions. We're happy to help you integrate Fieldwork into your curriculum.