Mark H. Massé

Former Virginia Tech Collegiate Times editor Amie Steele in a 2009 dartcenter.org article: “I realized there was a story behind the victims. And while we had our notebooks and recorders out during those weeks writing about people’s emotions, we weren’t dealing with our own. Journalists are too often covering heartbreaking, emotional stories. At the end of the day, I think it is important for journalists to come to terms with the grave things they may see while covering a story— not only for their sanity but for their reporting. While it is important for you to tell that person’s story, your health is important too.” Read More 

Experts cite several factors in determining how individuals deal with exposure to tragedy and trauma. Factors include upbringing, personality, work experience, work environment and many other life lessons and influences. Young reporters may encounter trauma effects due to inexperience. Veteran reporters may have severe emotional impact after reaching a psychological threshold (tipping point).

My thanks to the faculty, staff and students of Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications for their support during my presentation on Nov. 17. Appreciated the opportunity to discuss my book TRAUMA JOURNALISM: ON DEADLINE IN HARM'S WAY and participate in Q&A.

Former journalist Melissa Manware described the emotional toll of nearly 10 years of police-beat reporting in a Quill magazine article. She also commented on the role of empathy: “A reporter who really cares about a story will almost always do a better job of telling it. Stories change lives, they give voices to the voiceless and, most importantly, they remind all of us of our humanity.” Read More 

American Journalism Review author and professor Sherry Ricchiardi cites an emerging area of concern for news organizations: how to protect reporters operating in areas dominated by organized crime? Journalists across Eastern Europe have been intimidated, assaulted and their families threatened because of investigative research on spreading mafia activity.

www.journalistsatrisk.org is a free resource for conflict reporters and other news personnel. The website is an online community of media professionals with experience in hostile environments. It includes a community discussion board, a “KnowledgeBase,” safety tips, online maps, and other resources. Sample Tip of the Day: “Never carry a weapon or travel with journalists who do. Be prudent in taking pictures and know local sensitivities about (conflict) photography. Seek the agreement of soldiers before shooting images.” Read More 

The BBC imposes strict rules to protect its staff and stringers, particularly in high-risk work (e.g., deployments to hostile environments, covert filming of dangerous groups, and covering events such as terrorist incidents, natural disasters and pandemic diseases). Correspondents and staff may decline such dangerous assignments without penalty or “any other detrimental consequence.” An extensive risk assessment procedure is followed before crews are selected to go in harm's way. Read More 

Professors Yung Soo Kim of the University of Kentucky and James D. Kelly of Indiana University researched whether people believed photojournalists were ethical if they acted as dispassionate (professional) observers rather than “Good Samaritans” when confronted with life and death issues. Respondents supported moral relativism, believing photojournalists’ actions depended on situational factors. Photojournalist James Nachtwey’s states: “It is something I have to reckon with every day because I know that if I ever allow genuine compassion to be overtaken by personal ambition, I will have sold my soul.” Read More 

Cliff Lonsdale, a lecturer at the University of Western Ontario, and president of the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, is a former chief news editor and production head for CBC Television and CBC News. Since 1993, he has been an independent documentary filmmaker. Lonsdale says “climate change” is needed in newsrooms and journalism classrooms re: the impact of crisis coverage where “emotional trauma is an integral part of the newsgathering process.” Read More 

University of Missouri Professor Jim MacMillan says the trauma journalism media reform movement has three key elements: (1) the psychological challenges facing journalists, (2) the obligations to victims and survivors of traumatic events, and (3) the media’s responsibility concerning the potential effects reporting on tragedy and trauma may have on communities of news consumers.