The Prospectus

Topic Overview

“Despite data on the impact of journalists’ jobs on their mental health, very few studies have provided practical tips for newsrooms or explored effective methods to prevent and address stress and burnout among journalists'' (Miller). The impact of trauma on journalists varies, but “research suggests that between 80 and 100% of journalists have been exposed to a work-related traumatic event” (Slaughter, Autumn, et al.).

Journalists are often some of the first people on the front lines of violent events and are most commonly found alongside first responders and witnesses. Trauma can range from a variety of topics including, but not limited to, disasters, mass shootings, everyday events, war, and sexual violence. Trauma reporting can take a toll on one’s mental health and may result in desensitization, varying levels of depression, and in extreme cases Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Jeremy Yurow (left) and Grace Mack look at online resource in a newsroom in Phoenix on March 2, 2023.

Studies have surveyed journalists from around the world and found alarming discoveries. “(They) showed that the prevalence of PTSD among journalists was higher than the general population, but that a minority of those in the study had used psychiatric services'' (Aoki, Yuta, et. al 388).

In addition to the trauma that journalists face by covering these events, they often face backlash for reporting on them. Journalists experience violence, intimidation (verbal or physical threats focused on a person’s work as a journalist) and harassment (aggressive verbal or physical actions directed at someone because of another personal characteristic). Another form of backlash journalists can face in some parts of the world for reporting is being detained. Over 300 journalists were detained just last year and some faced physical torture, isolation and other mistreatment (Parker, Kelsey et al.). When taking the research and studies into account, one can see that journalists are at risk for exposure to work-related trauma and these traumas can negatively affect their mental health.

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Resources

Aoki, Yuta, et al. “Mental Illness among Journalists: A Systematic Review.” International

Journal of Social Psychiatry, vol. 59, no. 4, 2012, pp. 377–390.,

https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764012437676.

Miller, Naseem S. “Journalists Are Stressed. Research Offers Tips to Help Reporters Cope.” The

Journalist's Resource, Harvard Kennedy School, 28 May 2021,

https://journalistsresource.org/home/journalism-stress-solutions/.

Parker, Kelsey, et al. “Journalists and Harassment.” Dart Center, 11 Dec. 2017,

https://dartcenter.org/content/journalists-and-harassment.

Slaughter, Autumn, et al. “Covering Trauma: Impact on Journalists.” Dart Center, Columbia

Journalism School, 24 Apr. 2019, https://dartcenter.org/content/covering-trauma-

impact-on-journalists.