Trauma Poses a Significant Organisational Risk to Journalists.
Journalists are in a unique professional role in regard to their interface with trauma. Some are consistently and directly exposed to traumatic events, such as war correspondents. Some are routinely exposed to traumatic material such as images and raw video footage. Almost all journalists work with people who have been exposed to traumatic and often harrowing events.
However, unlike other professions such as paramedics, journalists are not expected to directly and immediately intervene to mitigate the effects of those events. When done properly, their role is to bring stories to mass audiences in as accurate a manner as possible. Although this carries the potential benefits of upholding human rights and the accountability, any such benefits take time to manifest.
While journalists’ work is often highly rewarding with a strong sense of purpose, journalists’ are more exposed to potentially harmful traumatic stress in the form of PTSD, moral injury, vicarious trauma and burnout.
Media 0rganisations that do not have a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to managing the risks posed from trauma exposure place their employees at risk of psychological injury, interviewees in danger, and are less able to conduct journalism objectively, diligently and respectfully
Thankfully there are evidenced based methods to manage exposure to trauma and intervene when people have been adversely affected.
Criterion A Psychology Services offers several services designed to protect journalists from harm and assist when needed. Our approach is centred around the notion that journalists are also highly resilient and able to perform under demanding conditions.
We have worked with journalists and organisations including The Guardian, The New York Times, The BBC, Vice and Al Jazeera.
If you would like to know more about our provision of psychological interventions for people affected by their work in the media or wish to make an online appointment then click here.
If you would a psychologist to offer support, advice or consultation to a production, click here.
Our services include:
Trauma Informed Organisational Reviews
Supervision and advice to managers and editors who manage trauma exposed workforces
On site production team support and consultation
Bespoke Critical Incident Policies
Post-critical incident reviews
Providing bespoke trauma informed training
Providing direct individual evidence-based psychological therapy for staff and freelancers with traumatic stress presentations such as PTSD, burnout, anxiety and depression.
We partner with The Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma who provide a range of services including excellent training and advice to journalists affected by stress and trauma. please consider contacting them directly.
If you are a Not for Profit media agency we highly recommend contacting Trauma Treatment International for support. Trauma Treatment International offer psychological therapy for freelance journalists referred by the Rory Peck Trust. Trauma Treatment International also offer training and support to various Not for Profit media organisations, including Bellingcat, and Full Fact.
