Understanding trauma and journalism
Responsible reporting shouldn’t spread more trauma
Although physical violence and legal persecution by authorities is a very real threat to journalists, there is an aspect of their professional lives that is often woefully overlooked: trauma and other mental health pressures caused due to online abuse and attacks. When it comes to their digital presence, journalists are in a peculiar position.
Let’s talk about… trauma
Transparency and emotional check-ins play an important role when journalists work with sources on stories that deal with personal trauma, writes ProPublica audience editor Karim Doumar. But what about journalists’ relationships to their readers?
“Responsible reporting on trauma shouldn’t spread more trauma — it should do the opposite,” Doumar says, arguing that investigative stories exposing problems should include reporting on how to tackle them. The question is, how we report on pain, death and trauma without losing our humanity.
The debate
iMEdD has created the “Journalist’s Code of Conduct for Reporting on Traumatic Events”, a podcast focusing on the psychology of individuals experiencing trauma due to tragic events, as well as addressing issues related to privacy, legislation, and journalistic ethics.
The research
The Committee to Protect Journalists lists possible symptoms of trauma.
The resources
Humanitarian aid work exposes its staff to stress and trauma like no other sector. That this will impact mental health is inevitable. Join The Mind Field’s team of experts for an unique and transformative discussion on what that impact looks like and how to deal with it. Stress and Trauma in the field (and out of it) is an exclusive webinar today, Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 3PM Rome, 9AM New York, 2PM London, 4PM Kyiv, 10AM Rio De Janeiro, 8PM Bangkok, 4PM Damascus. Registration Fee - $27.
The tools
Journalists from Asia Pacific can register for this online training program on understanding trauma and journalism. Interested journalists can register their interest.