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Newsroom journalists at increased risk of PTSD, depression from images of extreme violence
Date:
August 7, 2014
Source:
SAGE Publications
Summary:
Journalists working with
images of extreme violence submitted to newsrooms by the public are at
increased risk of adverse psychological consequences, including
post-traumatic stress disorder. "Given that good journalism depends on
healthy journalists, news organizations will need to look anew at what
can be done to offset the risks inherent in viewing material. Reducing
the frequency of exposure may be one way to go," authors say.
Journalists
working with images of extreme violence submitted to newsrooms by the
public are at increased risk of adverse psychological consequences,
including post-traumatic stress disorder. New research, published today
by JRSM Open, shows that frequent, repetitive viewing of
traumatic images by journalists working with 'live' or User Generated
Content material can be closely linked to anxiety, depression, PTSD and
alcohol consumption. Frequency rather than duration of exposure to
images of graphic violence is more emotionally distressing to
journalists processing User Generated Content (UGC) material.
UGC is sought after by news organizations, some of which have created
specific news units to edit and 'sanitise' these images for screening
in news and documentary programmes.
The setting for the research was the newsrooms of three international news organisations and the participants were 116 English-speaking journalists working with UGC. Dr Anthony Feinstein, who led the team of researchers at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, said: "Previous research among war journalists revealed elevated rates of PTSD and major depression compared to domestic journalists with little exposure to personal threat or violence. Our research shows that exposure to violence, albeit indirect, in a group of UGC journalists, is an important determinant of psychopathology."
The news organizations involved in the study do not attempt to funnel more experienced journalists in the direction of a news story where the chances of viewing extreme violence are high.
Dr Feinstein said: "Given that good journalism depends on healthy journalists, news organizations will need to look anew at what can be done to offset the risks inherent in viewing UGC material. Reducing the frequency of exposure may be one way to go."
The setting for the research was the newsrooms of three international news organisations and the participants were 116 English-speaking journalists working with UGC. Dr Anthony Feinstein, who led the team of researchers at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, said: "Previous research among war journalists revealed elevated rates of PTSD and major depression compared to domestic journalists with little exposure to personal threat or violence. Our research shows that exposure to violence, albeit indirect, in a group of UGC journalists, is an important determinant of psychopathology."
The news organizations involved in the study do not attempt to funnel more experienced journalists in the direction of a news story where the chances of viewing extreme violence are high.
Dr Feinstein said: "Given that good journalism depends on healthy journalists, news organizations will need to look anew at what can be done to offset the risks inherent in viewing UGC material. Reducing the frequency of exposure may be one way to go."
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by SAGE Publications. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by SAGE Publications. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- A. Feinstein, B. Audet, E. Waknine. Witnessing images of extreme violence: a psychological study of journalists in the newsroom. JRSM Open, 2014; 5 (8) DOI: 10.1177/2054270414533323
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