Managing trauma and stress

These free resources provide essential guidance for journalists and newsroom managers on navigating stress and trauma, from the front lines of newsgathering to the pressure of the newsroom production process.

Image of a journalist covering a traumatic incident created with Google Gemini AI by Media Helping Media

Journalism, trauma and stress

Journalists frequently face trauma that affects their wellbeing and work. Explore essential support services for managing work-related stress and trauma.
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Secondary trauma in the newsroom

Up to 50% of newsroom staff viewing graphic footage face secondary trauma. Discover who is most at risk and how organisations can provide essential support.
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Journalism trauma: why cultural context matters

Culture and community can have a significant impact on how journalists process and cope with trauma and stress when covering news.
Image courtesy of Freedom House and released under Creative Commons CC BY 2.0

Reporting from conflict zones

When reporting from a conflict zone a journalist needs to be sensitive, understand history and cultural issues, and put people first
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Managing people and setting objectives

Media managers need to set clear objectives for all staff in order to get the best out of those who work for the news organisation.
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Identifying training needs for journalists

When journalists fail to file a story it can sometimes reveal skill gaps. This exercise illustrates what editors hear and which training might fix the problem.
Journalist attending an interview for a job - Image created using Perplexity by MHM

Hiring and developing staff

Hiring the right journalists is one of the most critical decisions senior newsroom managers make. The following guide is designed to help editors choose the right candidates.
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Quick Guide: Trauma and stress

Covering traumatic events and experiencing stress are part of journalism, making it essential for journalists to learn how to protect their mental health.
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Workshop: Stress and trauma in journalism

Journalism can exposes reporters to trauma. This workshop offers techniques and tools to manage stress and protect a reporter's work and wellbeing.
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Tool: Journalist wellbeing charter

This tool is for newsroom managers to use to protect the psychological wellbeing of staff who encounter trauma and stress.
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Tool: Delivering trauma training

Discussing trauma can trigger emotional responses in participants, so it is vital to lead training sessions with a mix of professional advice and empathy.
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Lesson: Journalism, trauma, and stress

This lesson plan is designed to help journalists recognise and manage trauma and stress in the course of their work. 

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