Guardians – Media Safety and Risk Management Advisor (MSRMA) Course, A Highfield Level 5 Accredited Programme

Deane Smith
Aug 17
3 min read

Updated: Aug 22

What to Expect When You Arrive

From day one, you’ll step directly into the role of a Media Safety Advisor.

You’ll be introduced to a simulated news, documentary, or investigative crew preparing for deployment. This isn’t just about frontlines, story telling or vehicle extractions, it’s a comprehensive immersion into the complex world of high-risk media operations.

Real-World Scenarios. Real-World Pressure.

This is a hands-on, immersive training experience. Expect to be pushed, challenged, and fully engaged across a wide range of critical tasks and scenarios, including:

Risk assessments and operational planning
Online study, briefings, and real-time conference calls
Equipment checks, PPE management, and kit familiarisation
Understanding production equipment and on-location operations
Communications protocols, lost comms, and redundancy
Documentation, ISOPREPs, insurance, contracts, and legal frameworks
“Journalist Away!” procedures, mobility planning, tracking & hibernation
CBRN awareness and immediate actions
Drone capabilities and drone-specific risk actions
Situational awareness: civil unrest & high-risk environments
Live Q&As with journalists and deployed safety advisors
Team protocols: Do's and Don’ts in the field
Career development and training pathways
Digital defence and cyber safety
Media law, ethics, and working with journalists
Resilience, sustainability, and durability in practice
First response to field mental health issues
Introduction to respected networks, advisors, and companies

🩺 Medical Training – Important Notice

There is no medical training included in the MSRMA course.

Why?

Because medical competence is a prerequisite — not part of this course. However, you will be expected to understand and respond to:

Illnesses, conditions, and casualties in the field
Telemetric clinician support protocols
First-line, second-line, and third-line medical kit and capabilities

Minimum Entry Requirement:

FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) or an equivalent recognised qualification

Guardians Deployment Standard:

Guardians minimal deployment standards for medical skills are:

FREC 4 qualified
SALM – Safe Administration of Life-Saving Medications
CPD log of all learning and ongoing training

If you don’t yet hold FREC 3 or higher, please complete your medical training before applying.

https://www.guardianswithoutborders.com/first-response-emergency-care-level-three

Why Only 8 Learners Per Course?

We deliberately limit each course to just 8 learners – and run only 4 courses per year. Why? Because we focus on quality, not quantity.

We thoroughly assess applicants for character, suitability, and professionalism — not just experience. A scan of an applicant’s online presence often gives us insight into their mindset and values.

We’re not here to chase numbers or revenue. We won’t take learners we know won’t meet industry standards or who aren’t aligned with our expectations. We’re building a professional, high-standard community — not a revolving door.

❌ No, It’s Not Online – And Never Will Be

We’ve been asked. The answer is still no: The MSRMA course will never be delivered online.

What’s next? P’Coy, Police Training and Commando course via Zoom?Absolutely not.

This course demands presence, pressure, and performance — and it’s delivered face-to-face, exactly as the job demands. When it comes to safety, performance, or any critical operation, especially in industries like healthcare and high risk media safety or emergency services, there is no room for shortcuts.

Quality training and strict compliance aren't just checkboxes, they're life-saving measures.

Cutting corners can lead to:

Injuries or fatalities
Legal consequences
Loss of trust
Operational failures

Every protocol, every drill, every regulation exists for a reason: to ensure that when pressure hits, people can respond correctly and effectively. Your life and others depend on it!