Context

When a journalist reports in a country or culture that is unfamiliar to them, it’s challenging to do that work alone. The journalist often needs translation, cultural interpretation, logistical and security assistance, editorial support and feedback, and assistance in arranging permissions and access to people and/or locations. To address these needs, reporters may hire local journalists in the role of fixer. And while many journalists say the contributions of their fixers are integral to their reporting, those contributions often go uncredited by global media organizations.

Fixer is an elastic term. Responsibilities can be wide-ranging and include everything from managing logistics, such as driving, safety and security, to making payments, travel arrangements, securing access to locations and/or people, navigating bureaucracy, and managing risk. The fixer may also be a cultural and linguistic interpreter. They also may provide editorial support, suggest reporting locations or sources, monitor local and social media, provide background research, conduct interviews, and provide editorial feedback. Fixers are often journalists in their own right though they may be hired in a secondary role on international reporting teams.

Rather than hiring local journalists to report a story, international media outlets often send reporters and correspondents to tell the story for their audiences. There are reasons why this is common practice for major Western media — a correspondent can offer an outsider’s lens on an issue, bring the perspective of the audience “back home” to the reporting, or can report on contentious issues that might put local journalists at risk. But there are uneven power dynamics between local and global journalists, and between wealthy and less-developed countries. These dynamics often lead to inequities.

Fixers are not without agency. They are aware of these disparities and recognize that newsroom policies favour staff reporters, but may ultimately choose to take these contracts for the promise of higher pay, and the opportunity to work on stories with significant global reach.

Safety is a concern — especially in countries where press freedom is restricted. After reporting concludes, foreign journalists leave, but fixers who are in-country are left to deal with any potential negative consequences, such as arrest and/or imprisonment, after a story is published. They are often the first to be questioned by authorities and usually aren’t provided the same level of insurance and security protections as staff reporters.

This is not a new discussion. There is a body of academic research that critically evaluates the traditional dynamics of the foreign correspondent and fixer relationship. Several organizations, such as ACOS and Frontline Freelancer, advocate for freelancers and their rights.

In 2016 the Global Reporting Centre examined the journalist-fixer relationship, and its impact on journalism, by surveying 450 industry professionals in more than 70 countries. Five main areas of concern emerged from the study: respect, editorial agency, pay, safety, and credit. The Centre convened a group of global journalists in February 2023 to discuss the disparities in the relationship and build a list of best practices. Provided are actionable guidelines that support equitable global journalism.

We hope this set of recommendations will be useful for a broad range of journalists around the world and will contribute to more equitable global reporting.