Ilontsera, an independent media watchdog in Madagascar, has published a practical protection manual aimed at helping journalists navigate physical, digital, and legal threats in a challenging press environment. The guide covers four key areas: risk assessment, personal safety, cybersecurity, and legal protections — including how to avoid crossing into illegal territory and how to defend oneself in court. The publication comes as Madagascar (a large island nation off Africa's southeastern coast) ranks 113th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index, with journalists routinely facing SLAPP suits, intimidation, and self-censorship, and the country still lacking a whistleblower protection law despite civil society efforts dating back to 2018.