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Journalism and Trauma

Journalism and Trauma. For the PPI-NUJP Seminar on Journalism and Trauma January 28-29, 2012. Trauma can change people. My husband came home from two years of war in the Ivory Coast with nightmares, sweats, insomnia and the feeling that he will never be safe again. - Janine di Giovani.

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Journalism and Trauma

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  1. Journalism and Trauma For the PPI-NUJP Seminar on Journalism and TraumaJanuary 28-29, 2012

  2. Trauma can change people.

  3. My husband came home from two years of war in the Ivory Coast with nightmares, sweats, insomnia and the feeling that he will never be safe again. - Janine di Giovani

  4. Covering trauma can change journalists.

  5. What you shoot, what you film and see can't just be forgotten easily. These pictures go home with you, stay in your mind, in your dreams. - Nael ShyoukhriReuters West Bank

  6. Traumatic Stress Reactionsand the working journalist • Empathic engagement with those in a story – interviewees, sources, affected community…

  7. Traumatic Stress Reactionsand the working journalist • Or direct exposure to traumatic content or events where you feel extreme horror, disgust, fear and/or helplessness

  8. “Reporters, photojournalists, soundmen and field producers often work elbow to elbow with emergency workers. Journalists’ symptoms are remarkably similar to those of police officers and firefighters who work in the immediate aftermath of tragedy, yet journalists receive little support after they file their stories. While public safety workers are offered debriefing and counseling after a trauma, journalists are merely assigned a story.” – Al Tompkins Poynter Institute for Media Studies

  9. Trauma’s Ripple Effect Covering the story: reporters, cameras, sound, etc. Audiences… Social Support: families, partners, children, friends & colleagues Others at the scene: producers, tech support Those with responsibility: Managers, Editors, team leaders Those back in the studio taking material in: e.g. Picture editors, Monitors

  10. Repeated Exposure = Higher Risk • Individuals who have been exposed to trauma in their personal lives may be at increased risk for developing PTSD symptomology (Newman et al., 2003; Pyevich, et al., 2003, Teegen et al., 2001). • Journalists reporting high rates of exposure to traumatic assignments are likely to report more PTSD symptoms than those who report few incidents of exposure (Newman et al., 2003; Pyevich et al., 2003, McMahon, 2001)

  11. “Witnessing death and injury takes its toll, a toll that increases with exposure’’ Dr. Elana Newman, University of Tulsa and Past President, ISTSS.

  12. Combat Exposure: Special Risks • Among career “war correspondents”, 28% met criteria for PTSD, 21% for depression, and 14% for substance abuse (Feinsten, Owen & Blair, 2003) • Among Iraq war journalists, no significant difference between embedded vs. unilateral (Feinstein & Nicholson, 2005)

  13. Bad management = Higher risk • Research shows that management perceived as hostile or inconsistent is as significant a risk factor for journalists’ PTSD as the severity of trauma exposure (Smith, 2009) • This parallels studies from the military and first responders

  14. Organizational impacts • Vicarious traumatization • Burnout • Erosion of trust

  15. Important Points • Trauma is cumulative • Non-frontline doesn’t mean non-traumatic • Not just those assigned in conflict areas are traumatized • Vicarious trauma risk

  16. Important Points TRAUMA CAN CAUSE DISRUPTION OF: • Memory • Concentration and focus • Connection, interest, empathy • RISKS TO: • News judgment and professional capacity • Career • Relationships

  17. Why talk about trauma? • Understand those we cover: victims, sources, perpetrators, communities • Better interviewing skill and source development • Effective management of coverage during and after crisis • Manage direct and vicarious trauma exposure • Stay resilient and effective

  18. In the Philippines… • Low awareness • Greater risk for community journalists • Lack of funds/resources • Lack of: • Journalists who are knowledgeable on the issue • Health professionals who specialize on journalism trauma • Programs that deal specifically with this issue

  19. There should be no stigma or shame about having a difficult emotional time after trauma.

  20. What Works • Education: Basic tips in understanding trauma, maintaining resilience on challenging stories, early warning signs, getting help. • Peer support: All research shows that one of the best indicators that someone will be resilient is the support they give and receive from others. • Clinical intervention when needed/appropriate • Management training/organizational preparation

  21. Talk to someone who understands!

  22. NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

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