How have journalists been affected psychologically by their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic? A descriptive study of two international news organisations

Abstract

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented healthcare challenges. Journalists covering the pandemic at close quarters are working in ways akin to first responders, but nothing to date is known of the psychological distress this is potentially causing them. This study aims to determine whether journalists reporting on the COVID-19 crisis have been affected emotionally, and if so to assess the severity of their distress. It also investigates potential demographic and work-related predictors and whether news organisations had provided counselling to their journalists.ParticipantsA total of 111 journalists working for two international news organisations were approached of which 73 (66%) participated in the study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresSymptoms of anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7)), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)), overall psychological distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12)), and treatment.ResultsThe percentages of journalists exceeding threshold scores for clinically significant anxiety, depression, PTSD and psychological distress were: GAD-7, 26%; PHQ-9, 20.5%; PCL-5, 9.6%; GHQ-12, 82.2%. Journalists assigned to cover the pandemic (n=54 (74%)) were significantly more anxious (p<0.05). Journalists who received counselling (n=38 (52%)) following the onset of the pandemic reported significantly fewer symptoms of anxiety (p<0.01), depression (p<0.01) and overall psychological distress (p<0.01).ConclusionsJournalists covering the COVID-19 pandemic are experiencing levels of anxiety and depression similar to those seen in first responders. Psychological therapy provided in a timely manner can significantly alleviate emotional distress.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Journalists Repeatedly Covering COVID-19 News

“…Our study found that journalists repeatedly reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated consequences had higher levels of PTSD symptoms and psychological distress than journalists who were working during the pandemic yet covering stories other than COVID-19. This is consistent with recent research that demonstrates high psychological distress among journalists working for international news organisations regularly reporting on COVD-19 [16] and consistent with previous research that shows repeated trauma exposure is a predictor for PTSD in journalists [4,[17][18][19]. The prolonged and ever-changing nature of the pandemic has resulted in journalists being forced to deal with stories related to human suffering over and over again.…”

Reply to Van Overmeire, R. Comment on “Tyson, G.; Wild, J. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Journalists Repeatedly Covering COVID-19 News. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 8536”

“…Our study advances the work of Osmann et al [6] by ensuring the PCL-5 was completed by journalists who had experienced a criterion A event. As such, we can be confident that the rates of PTSD symptoms reported in our study are a result of exposure to DSM-5defined trauma.…”

“…In more comprehensive studies of PTSD, we administer the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 to assess for a PTSD diagnosis [4]. Measuring PTSD symptoms with the PCL-5 [5] is a commonly used method in the field and a recently published study by Osmann, Selva and Feinstein [6] administered this scale to investigate symptomatology among journalists working during the COVID-19 pandemic, also reporting similar rates of PTSD symptoms as found in our overall sample.…”

Validation of the Toronto Moral Injury Scale for Journalists.

“…Working alone, an increased workload, a lack of organizational support, poor control of resources needed to report the story, and stepping outside roles as a journalist to assist the subjects of their stories were factors found to be associated with moral injury (Feinstein et al, 2018). All of which may be amplified by the stresses to journalists that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic (Osmann et al, 2021).…”