Putting your name and face on your stories builds trust with your audience, but there is a flipside. If you are not careful, you may be leaving behind a trail of information that may put you, your friends and family in harm’s way.

Dr Rebecca Whittington is the UK’s first online safety editor, working to protect journalists from online harm and harassment at the regional news group, Reach plc. Her expertise in digital safety is grounded both in newsroom experience and academic research. 

At Newsrewired last week (14 May), she delivered a digital safety clinic seeking to help journalists to look up just how much of their information can be found online.

"Journalists have to strike a balance of having an online persona and being safe" - Rebecca Whittington

A step-by-step guide:

Open a private/incognito browser tab

  • This prevents your search history, cookies, and logged-in accounts from influencing the results, giving you a more accurate view of what a stranger can find about you.