Reference
Getting Help
A guide for journalists seeking therapy for personal or work-related issues.
Read the article on the Dart Center For Journalism & Trauma website.
A pilot program training therapists to help journalists.
Click here to visit the Journalist Trauma Support Network website.
“The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is partnering with the Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund for this joint effort to provide emergency funding to Black journalists.” – IWMF
Click here to visit the International Women’s Media Foundation website
“This fund, created in partnership with AAJA, is designed to provide financial assistance specifically for AAPI journalists to help you get the support you need during this time. There are no therapists designated for this fund, so the money can be used at your discretion, whether it’s to continue seeing your current therapist, to see a therapist for the first time, or to pay for your medication.”
Click here to access form.
A resource list by the LA Times, published in September 2022.
Read the article on the Los Angeles Times website.
A resource to find a therapist.
Click here to visit Therapy for Black Girls website.
A resource to find a therapist.
Click here to visit Melanin and Mental Health website.
Offers several resources, including a director of Black therapists.
Click here to visit the ABPsi website.
Articles
The article delves into the ethical challenges journalists encounter when covering disasters and traumatic events, emphasizing the balance between engaging audiences through emotional storytelling and respecting the dignity of victims. It also highlights the need for journalists to avoid sensationalism and consider the psychological impact of their reporting on both themselves and their audience.
Read the article on the Histories of Emotion website.
The article discusses the trauma journalists endure while covering mass shootings, highlighting the emotional toll these events take on them. It emphasizes the challenges journalists face in processing these traumatic experiences, as the increasing frequency of such incidents leaves little time for recovery between stories.
Read the article on the USA Today website.
The article from Psychology Today explores how journalists often experience vicarious trauma due to repeated exposure to distressing events. It discusses factors such as personal and organizational stressors, and coping mechanisms, which contribute to the development of PTSD among journalists covering traumatic stories.
Read the article on the Psychology Today website.
This highlights the challenges journalists face, such as exposure to graphic content and the need for compassionate reporting, and discusses the growing recognition of mental health support in newsrooms.
Read the article on the VOA News website.
The article on Journalists’ Resource explains trauma-informed journalism, emphasizing the importance of understanding the psychological impacts of trauma on both interviewees and reporters. It provides guidelines for journalists to approach sensitive stories with empathy and care, ensuring responsible and ethical reporting.
Read the article on the Journalists’ Resource website.
The Covering CRSV website provides comprehensive resources and information on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), focusing on advocacy, support services, and awareness. It aims to educate and mobilize communities to address and prevent CRSV through evidence-based approaches and collaborative efforts.
Read the article on the Covering CRSV website.
The IJNet article offers practical advice for journalists on maintaining mental health while reporting on trauma, emphasizing the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and seeking support. It provides strategies for managing emotional impact and maintaining professional resilience in the face of distressing content.
Read the article on the International Journalists’ Network website.
The Poynter article provides guidance for journalists on self-care while covering trauma, highlighting the need for mental health awareness and strategies to manage emotional impact. It emphasizes practical tips for maintaining well-being, such as setting boundaries and seeking support, to ensure resilience in the field.
Read the article on the Poynter website.
Books
- Trauma Reporting: A Journalists Guide to Covering Sensitive Stories by Joe Healey
- Mental Health and Wellbeing for Journalists by Hannah Storm
- The Trauma Beat: Re-thinking the Business of Bad News by Tamara Cherry
- Journalism and the Fourth Emergency Service by Peter Lang
Videos
Apps/Online Tools
- Meditation Apps: Headspace, Insight Timer, Calm, Healthy Minds Program, Smiling Mind
- PTSD Coach: This app offers educational resources on PTSD, details on professional care options, self-assessment tools, and strategies for managing everyday stress associated with PTSD
- Insomnia Coach: app grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
- Mindfulness Coach: effective in reducing stress, enhancing self-awareness, and assisting with anxiety and depression
- Provider Resilience: The app is designed to help users to stay emotionally healthy while remaining productive. Although it’s designed for health-care providers, it can be useful for journalists.
- Plum Village: Free app with guided meditations, deep relaxations and other practices offered by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community.