Emotional Wellbeing of Journalists

Independent Online Journalists' Harassment and the Emotional Repercussions

Nyasha Cefas Zimuto, Tinashe Murape

In: Patterns of Harassment in African Journalism

Lungile Augustine Tshuma; Trust Matsilele; Mbongeni Jonny Msimanga; Sadia Jamil (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2024), pp. 109-123

"Communication the world over is a vital cog in communities. The sender and the receiver play different and complementary roles in information dissemination. Be that as it may, many contemporary information senders are faced with different forms of harassment. The advent of social media has seen a r ... more

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Predictors of psychological distress in frontline journalists: Common denominators across three decades of conflicts

Jonas Anthony Osmann Feinstein

Traumatology, volume 30, issue 3 (2024), pp. 306-313

"Objective: To determine risk factors for symptoms of PTSD and depression in frontline journalists that traverse type of conflict, degree of exposure to stressors, language, and culture. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1,103 frontline journalists from 12 datasets (Balkans, 9/11 attacks, Iraq, M ... more

Effectiveness of art therapy in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and the propensity to quit journalism among journalists covering banditry activities in Nigeria

Felix Olajide Talabi, Joshua Kayode Okunade, Joseph Moyinoluwa Talabi, Ishola Kamorudeen Lamidi, Samson Adedapo Bello, Blessing Chinweobo-Onoha, Gever Verlumun Celestine

Media, War & Conflict, volume 17, issue 4 (2024), pp. 445-462

"The goal of this study was to examine the efficacy of art therapy in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the propensity to quit journalism among Nigerian journalists covering banditry attacks. The researchers utilized a quasi-experiment as the design for the study and sampled ... more

Journalists and Exposure to Trauma: Exploring Perceptions of PTSD and Resilience Among Pakistan’s Conflict Reporters

Ayesha Siddiqua, Muhammad Zubair Iqbal

Journalism Practice (2024), [no pag.]

"The study attempts to understand how Pakistani journalists perceive Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and resilience in the wake of covering traumatic events. Qualitative interviews of 32 Pakistani journalists were conducted who had covered military operations against militants. The findings in ... more

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Safety of journalists: The symbolic violence and double burden of marginalized journalists

Sandra Banjac

In: The Routledge Companion to Digital Journalism Studies

Scott A. II Eldridge; David Cheruiyot; Sandra Banjac; Joëlle Swart (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2024), 10 pp.

"Journalists have always worked amidst risks to their safety; risks that have become all the more exacerbated in the digital age. Scholarship has documented journalists confronting cyberattacks, various forms of harassment, verbal abuse and hate speech, as well as legal threats from a variety of act ... more

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‘They blame the messenger’: Re-examining the critique of journalists reporting on genocide in Rwanda and Srebrenica

Caitlin Knight

Journalism, volume 25, issue 10 (2024), pp. 2117–2134

"Reporting on cases of genocide presents distinct complexities and challenges for journalists, who must negotiate practical, professional, and emotional experiences that challenge traditional expectations of their role. Previous research has provided strident critiques of this reporting, arguing Wes ... more

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Psychological Aid and Training for Journalists Who Face Continued Emotionally Demanding Environments: The Case of Venezuelan Journalists

María T. Soto-Sanfiel, Virpi Salojärvi

In: Handbook of Applied Journalism: Theory and Practice

Leon Barkho; Jairo Alfonso Lugo-Ocando; Sadia Jamil (eds.)

Cham: Springer (2024), pp. 301-315

"Journalism, particularly in conflict reporting, poses significant emotional challenges, with journalists often grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other traumas. This research delves into the emotional dimensions of journalistic practice, examining journalists’ perspectives on menta ... more

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Mental Health and Wellbeing for Journalists: A Practical Guide
Top Insights

Hannah Storm

London; New York: Routledge (2024), xiv, 185 pp.

"This book offers a first-of-its-kind practical, person-centred guide to managing and contextualising journalists’ emotional wellbeing and mental health. Drawing on the author’s experience as a storyteller, journalist, and media safety consultant, this book combines significant lived personal ex ... more

Who Teaches About Hostility? Examining Factors for Inclusion in Journalism Curriculum

Kelsey R. Mesmer, Kaitlin C. Miller

Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, volume 79, issue 2 (2024), pp. 205-223

"Journalistic well-being is garnering increasing attention from scholars globally. Nevertheless, minimal research has explored how colleges and universities are teaching about such topics, especially as they pertain to hostility toward the press, which is on the rise. Utilizing a survey of journalis ... more

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Taking to the streets: The effects of in-the-field harassment against journalists covering protests

Kaitlin C. Miller, Samantha Kocan

Journalism, volume 25, issue 2 (2024), pp. 275-294

"Since 2017, 518 journalists have been attacked while covering protests (U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2021) which is one of the most dangerous places to be as a journalist in the United States (Sterne & Peters, 2017). Despite the volatile climate around journalists as they cover increasingly dangerou ... more

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“The goal is to make you weaker”: Mental well-being and risks among European cross-border investigative journalists

Belle de Jong, Johana Kotišová

Journalism (2024), [no pag.]

"The increased scale of cross-border journalistic investigations brings about severe challenges: online harassment, physical violence, legal threats, but also emotional challenges and mental stress that can lead to burnout. The latter has never been the focus of studies on cross-border investigative ... more

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Journalism as the Fourth Emergency Service: Trauma and Resilience
Inspiring Practice

Lisa Bradley, Emma Heywood (eds.)

New York et al.: Peter Lang (2024), xviii, 257 pp.

"Journalists have often been considered the "fourth emergency service". They are first on the scene, alongside paramedics, fi re and police, running towards danger rather than away, and providing independent, veritable and crucial information in the public interest. And yet, unlike frontline workers ... more

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Engaged Journalism and Professional Happiness

Lambrini Papadopoulou, Eugenia Siapera

In: Happiness in Journalism

Valérie Bélair-Gagnon; Avery E. Holton; Mark Deuze; Claudia Mellado (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), pp. 175-184

"This chapter identifies what motivates and professionally satisfies an engaged journalist. Instead of happiness, it suggests the notion of contentment." (Abstract)

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Happiness in Journalism

Valérie Bélair-Gagnon, Avery E. Holton, Mark Deuze, Claudia Mellado (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), xi, 204 pp.

"This book examines how journalism can overcome harmful institutional issues such as work-related trauma and precarity, focusing specifically on questions of what happiness in journalism means, and how one can be successful and happy on the job. Acknowledging profound variations across people, genre ... more

Teaching Student Journalists to Refill their Happiness Tanks

Alexandra Wake, Erin Smith

In: Happiness in Journalism

Valérie Bélair-Gagnon; Avery E. Holton; Mark Deuze; Claudia Mellado (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), pp. 147-156

"This chapter suggests methods for encouraging well-being among journalism students and refers to ground-breaking court cases that have put media organisations on notice, requiring them to provide psychologically safe workplaces for journalists." (Abstract)

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Recruitment and Retention Practices in a Changing African News Media Ecosystem

Hayes Mawindi Mabweazara, Trust Matsilele

In: Happiness in Journalism

Valérie Bélair-Gagnon; Avery E. Holton; Mark Deuze; Claudia Mellado (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), pp. 59-68

"This chapter maps out the contours of recruitment and retention practices in an increasingly complex African news media ecosystem in which traditional news media operate alongside a new crop of small but very vibrant media start-ups that are intentionally unencumbered by traditional journalistic an ... more

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News, Negativity, and the Audience's Role in Finding Happiness in Journalism

Seth C. Lewis

In: Happiness in Journalism

Valérie Bélair-Gagnon; Avery E. Holton; Mark Deuze; Claudia Mellado (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), pp. 193-195

"This commentary argues that caring about mental health and well-being in journalism begins with journalists, but it also should include corresponding care for news audiences." (Abstract)

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