Mark Basil/CPJ Guest Blogger - Committee to Protect Journalists

Mark Basil’s security career spans nearly 20 years. He served in the U.S. Secret Service, working on anti-terrorism assignments and coordinating covert protection for world leaders. He performed security surveys and vulnerability assessments for those under Secret Service protection. He is now a certified protection professional. He teaches and trains others in security, and provides consulting in identifying security needs and developing security programs.

Outside the Moscow apartment building of Anna Politkovskaya on the night of her murder in 2006. A ex-police officer pleaded guilty to orchestrating extensive surveillance leading to her slaying. (AP/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Surveillance detection for journalists in the field

July 22, 2013 8:22 AM EDT

Much has been made recently about the digital surveillance of journalists–and rightly so–but physical surveillance remains a key tactic of security forces, law enforcement, and private entities. These operatives are monitoring journalists, gathering intelligence on them, and potentially obstructing journalists’ work or putting them at risk.