The emotional well-being of journalists exposed to traumatic events: A mapping review

Osmann, Jonas; Dvorkin, Jeffrey; Inbar, Yoel; Page‐Gould, Elizabeth; Feinstein, Anthony

doi:10.1177/1750635219895998

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(84 reference statements)

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“…For example, lifetime rates of PTSD in journalists with decades of frontline experience approach that found in combat veterans (Feinstein et al , 2002). In addition, rates of depression far exceeds that found in domestic journalists who report on local non-violent news stories (Osmann et al , 2020). What makes the Afghan findings so notable, however, is the extraordinary high levels of PTSD and depressive symptoms endorsed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…This is in contrast to a rich data set on journalists who have covered war and conflict in Europe, North America, Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East (Feinstein et al , 2018). Second, there is a substantial literature showing that journalists who cover conflict, be it war (Feinstein and Starr, 2015; Greenberg et al , 2007; Feinstein et al , 2002; Teegen and Grotwinkel, 2001), terror attacks (Backholm and Idås, 2015; Feinstein et al , 2015) or local domestic violence (Pyevich et al , 2003) are at increased risk of developing conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression relative to colleagues who cover non-traumatic events (Osmann et al , 2020). Once more no such data are available for Afghan journalists.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychological distress in Afghan journalists: a descriptive study

Osmann

Khalvatgar

Feinstein

2020

JACPR

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Purpose Afghanistan is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists. There are, however, no data on the mental health of Afghan journalists covering conflict in their country. The study aims to determine the degree to which Afghan journalists are exposed to traumatic events, their perceptions of organizational support, their rates of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, their utilization of mental health services and the effectiveness of the treatment received. Design/methodology/approach The entire study was undertaken in Dari (Farsi). Five major Afghan news organizations representing 104 journalists took part of whom 71 (68%) completed a simple eleven-point analog scale rating perceptions of organizational support. Symptoms of PTSD and depression were recorded with the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), respectively. Behavioral comparisons were undertaken between those journalists who had and had not received mental health therapy. Findings The majority of journalists exceeded cutoff scores for PTSD and major depression and reported high rates for exposure to traumatic events. There were no significant differences in IES-R and CES-D scores between journalists who had and had not received mental health therapy. Most journalists did not view their employers as supportive. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to collect empirical data on the mental health of Afghan journalists. The results highlight the extreme stressors confronted by them, their correspondingly high levels of psychopathology and the relative ineffectiveness of mental health therapy given to a minority of those in distress. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological distress in Afghan journalists: a descriptive study

Osmann

Khalvatgar

Feinstein

2020

JACPR

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“…This finding adds to a burgeoning literature documenting the psychological effects on journalist who cover risky, dangerous and distressing assignments. 35 In addition, with most news bureaus closed during lockdowns or working at reduced capacity, journalists have lacked the direct support of colleagues, which can prove protective from a psychological trauma perspective. 36 Further examples of how COVID-19 has increased work stress for journalists can be found in our demographic data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2021

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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.

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“…Prior to its ‘emotional turn’, the study of journalism practice has maintained an interest in emotion and its effects on journalists in various domains. An awareness of the disturbing prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in journalists has been an especially sobering result of such enquiry (Backholm and Bjorkqvist, 2012; Feinstein et al, 2002; Osmann et al, 2020). This work has made clear the severity of the emotional trauma that conflict reporting can inflict, with rates of PTSD comparable to that seen in combat veterans (Feinstein et al, 2002).…”

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confidence: 99%

Feeling responsible: Emotion and practical ethics in conflict journalism

Stupart

2021

Media, War & Conflict

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This article examines the role of emotion in the practices of journalists reporting on conflict and its effects in South Sudan, based on a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations of the working routines of journalists from Nairobi, Kampala and Juba. Contrary to perceptions of emotion as an akratic failure to reason in a rational, detached manner, obligations felt to people and situations can be understood as rational, information-bearing guides to action, directing journalists to consider personal ethical norms that may sit in tension with the norms of their professional roles as they understand them. The presence of such feelings in the case of journalists committed to a norm of emotional detachment in their work points to the moral incoherence of norms of detachment in (at least) journalism of this type.

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The emotional well-being of journalists exposed to traumatic events: A mapping review

Cited by 16 publications

References 76 publications

Psychological distress in Afghan journalists: a descriptive study

Psychological distress in Afghan journalists: a descriptive study

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

Feeling responsible: Emotion and practical ethics in conflict journalism

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