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Trauma & News Training & Culture Change

Trauma & News Training & Culture Change. Mark Brayne, Director Europe Dart Centre for Journalism &Trauma. The Dart Centre’s mission. To be a forum and resource for promoting the ethical, sensitive and informed reporting of tragedy and violence;

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Trauma & News Training & Culture Change

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  1. Trauma & NewsTraining & Culture Change Mark Brayne, Director Europe Dart Centre for Journalism &Trauma

  2. The Dart Centre’s mission • To be a forum and resource for promoting the ethical, sensitive and informed reporting of tragedy and violence; • To support the education of working journalists and journalism students in the science and psychology of trauma and its impact; • To develop and promote the organisational, peer-led and individual support of journalists and teams who cover trauma; • To support and disseminate research and best practice in the field of journalism and trauma.

  3. Hack + Shrink = ? + = Shrack …….

  4. The Facts • Comes with the journalistic territory… • Not just war • Also crime, accidents, violence…... • Handling images and words • Role/responsibility of the media as professional 1st responders • Duty of Care – cf other professions • Understanding trauma makes for • Healthier journalism • Healthier journalists

  5. Ben Brown

  6. Examples of Trauma Journalism 2

  7. The Guardian, Oct 10 2005

  8. Don McCullin When I went to war I came back with enormous guilt. I was a confused person. If I hadn't kept this very fine balance in check I think I would have gone mad.

  9. Janine di Giovani 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. For me, something turned when I heard the news of my friend who killed himself.

  10. Nael Shyoukhri, Reuters West Bank 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.

  11. A Scenario – Duty of Care • A small team of a news organisation’s journalists came under attack during a patrol with the American military in Iraq. Two were seriously hurt. Two came away with scratches only. They have just returned. • What do you expect they would do as line manager/editor/organisation? • What do you think they’re likely to need? • Who should they turn to for support and advice? • Discuss in twos/threes…

  12. What trauma can do • Depression • Tired, mood, sleep, worthless, gloomy thoughts, low self-esteem • Anxiety / Guilt • Nervous, worry, physical, peeing, “can’t cope”, fear of catastrophe • Substance Abuse • Drink, drugs, alcohol, caffeine – to numb • Relationship, Sexual and Eating problems • Group distress/Teamwork dysfunction • Acute/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder A/PTSD • But, Recovery and even Growth/Meaning most likely outcome…

  13. Journalists as First-Responders • Road traffic accidents • Armed combat and its aftermath • Murder, including the trials • Terrorist incidents • Social Deprivation • Child abuse • Transcribing testimony & monitoring reports… • Undercover reporting • Detention / being held hostage • Riots • Plane/train/rail crashes • Natural disasters • Personal assault • And more – including a difficult editor or boss…

  14. The Journalist’s Brain

  15. The More Evolved Human Brain

  16. Who’s at Risk 1 On assignment: reporters, cameras, etc Others also exposed: fixers, local staff, tech support etc Those back on base taking material in: e.g. Picture editors Those with responsibility: Managers, Editors, team leaders Social Support: families, partners, children, friends & colleagues Readers, Viewers, Audiences…

  17. Who’s at Risk 2 • Witnessing death/injury…....6% (m): 8% (f) • Life-threatening accident ….6% (m): 9% (f) • Physical attack………………2% (m): 21% (f) • Combat...............................38% (m) • Natural disaster…………..... 4% (m): 5% (f) • Rape...................................65% (m): 46% (f) War reporters……………………28% Kessler et al, 1995; Feinstein 2002

  18. How to deal with Trauma (NICE slide edited) What isn’t recommended… • “Psychological Debriefing” • Ineffective psychological treatments • For PTSD, drug treatments NOTa first line treatment (different for depression) What is recommended… • “Watchful Waiting” • Trauma-focused treatments (CBT and EMDR) for adults and children (Note military experience of cohesive social bonds, and “Forward Psychiatry” – PIES)

  19. HE training provider Confidential Counselling Organisations: Filling the Gap Internal Filling the gap • Editorial • Programmes • Management • Safety • Occ Health • HR • Training • Etc • TRAINING! • Destigmatisation • Culture change • Briefing Before • Support During • Support After • Structured Conversation • Info - Website - Referrals

  20. The Model • Entry level awareness training for all • Explicit training for managers/editors • Briefings BEFORE assignment • Active and educated support DURING • Appropriate support AFTER • Active and empathic listening • Watching for signs • Removing the stigma • WITHIN the culture • Professional/expert support for those who need it

  21. Counselling – at the right time

  22. Feedback 1 • “In changing the culture, and conveying the holistic understanding of the journalist, you’ve been spectacularly successful” – Stephen Whittle • “Extremely interesting & invaluable. Should be mandatory” • “I will spell out the risk of trauma and not treat it as taboo” • “It will change how we assign and how we treat individuals on return from a difficult assignment” • “Great to see it being formalised within the BBC “ • “It helped me that very evening to deal with a reporter who'd just returned from New Orleans “ • “This is vital and fills and big gap. Highly relevant “

  23. Feedback 2 • “An essential tool in the job I have been doing on a daily basis” • “One of the best I have been on. Utterly jargon-free, completely mature and entirely practical. A blessed relief. More like this please “ • “The aim should be that this is taught early in journalists’ career “ • “Ground-breaking work in an area of increasing importance“

  24. Dart Guidelines on Images • C.f. radiation • Does it need to be fed – or watched? • Sound can be the worst. Turn it off • Clear guidelines where - and whether - graphic material is stored • Education, Training & Patience • Physical Environment – windows, greenery, screen breaks, etc

  25. Frontline Club E.g. Beslan & Children’s trauma Tsunami Handling Violent Images Women Reporting War… Website. E.g. Training Guidelines Personal Stories Trauma News Blog Dart Centre Activity • Seattle, Europe & Oz • Duty-of-Care: The Journalist • BBC/Newsweek/WashPost • CNN/FT/ITN/NBC • Al-Jazeera • The Journalism of Trauma • Bournemouth/Cardiff Univs • Seattle/Michigan/Oz • Workshops/seminars • Germany ARD/ZDF • Russian NUJ • Denmark • Turkey • ESTSS • Portugal/Spain

  26. The Wrong Solution…

  27. Resources that we draw attention to • www.dartcentre.org • europe@dartcentre.org • www.newssafety.com • www.istss.org • www.estss.org • www.ncptsd.org

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