© Dart Centre 2006

Trauma & NewsTraining

& Culture Change

Mark Brayne, Director EuropeDart Centre for Journalism

&Trauma

© Dart Centre 2006

The Dart Centre’s mission

To be a forum and resource for promoting the ethical, sensitive and informed reporting of tragedy and violence;

To support the education of working journalists and journalism students in the science and psychology of trauma and its impact;

To develop and promote the organisational, peer-led and individual support of journalists and teams who cover trauma;

To support and disseminate research and best practice in the field of journalism and trauma.

© Dart Centre 2006

Hack + Shrink = ?

=+

Shrack …….

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The Facts

Comes with the journalistic territory… Not just war Also crime, accidents,

violence…... Handling images and words

Role/responsibility of the media as professional 1st responders

Duty of Care – cf other professions

Understanding trauma makes for Healthier journalism Healthier journalists

© Dart Centre 2006

Ben Brown

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Examples of Trauma Journalism 2

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The Guardian, Oct 10 2005

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Don McCullin

When I went to war I came back with enormous guilt. I was a confused person. If I hadn't kept this very fine balance in check I think I would have gone mad.

© Dart Centre 2006

Janine di Giovani

My husband came home from two years of war in the Ivory Coast with nightmares, sweats, insomnia and the feeling that he will never be safe again. For me, something turned when I heard the news of my friend who killed himself.

© Dart Centre 2006

Nael Shyoukhri, Reuters West Bank

What you shoot, what

you film and see can't

just be forgotten

easily. These pictures

go home with you,

stay in your mind, in

your dreams.

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A Scenario – Duty of Care

A small team of a news organisation’s journalists came under attack during a patrol with the American military in Iraq. Two were seriously hurt. Two came away with scratches only. They have just returned. What do you expect they would do as

line manager/editor/organisation? What do you think they’re likely to need? Who should they turn to for support and

advice? Discuss in twos/threes…

© Dart Centre 2006

Depression Tired, mood, sleep, worthless, gloomy thoughts,

low self-esteem Anxiety / Guilt

Nervous, worry, physical, peeing, “can’t cope”, fear of catastrophe

Substance Abuse Drink, drugs, alcohol, caffeine – to numb

Relationship, Sexual and Eating problems Group distress/Teamwork dysfunction Acute/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder A/PTSD

What trauma can do

But, Recovery and even Growth/Meaning most likely outcome…

© Dart Centre 2006

Journalists as First-Responders

Road traffic accidents Armed combat and its aftermath Murder, including the trials Terrorist incidents Social Deprivation Child abuse Transcribing testimony & monitoring reports… Undercover reporting Detention / being held hostage Riots Plane/train/rail crashes Natural disasters Personal assault And more – including a difficult editor or boss…

© Dart Centre 2006

The Journalist’s Brain

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The More Evolved Human Brain

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Who’s at Risk 1

Those with responsibility: Managers, Editors, team leaders

On assignment: reporters, cameras, etc

Others also exposed: fixers, local staff, tech support etc

Those back on base taking material in: e.g. Picture editors

Social Support: families, partners, children, friends & colleagues

Readers, Viewers, Audiences…

Who’s at Risk 2

Witnessing death/injury…....6% (m): 8% (f)

Life-threatening accident ….6% (m): 9% (f)

Physical attack………………2% (m): 21% (f)

Combat...............................38% (m)

Natural disaster…………..... 4% (m): 5% (f)

Rape...................................65% (m): 46% (f)

Kessler et al, 1995; Feinstein 2002

War reporters……………………28%

How to deal with Trauma

(NICE slide edited)

What isn’t recommended…

• “Psychological Debriefing”

• Ineffective psychological treatments

• For PTSD, drug treatments NOT a first line treatment (different for depression)

What is recommended…

• “Watchful Waiting”

• Trauma-focused treatments (CBT and EMDR) for adults and children

(Note military experience of cohesive social bonds, and “Forward Psychiatry” – PIES)

© Dart Centre 2006

Organisations: Filling the Gap

Internal

•Editorial•Programmes•Management•Safety•Occ Health•HR•Training•Etc

HE training provider

Filling the gap

- TRAINING!- Destigmatisation - Culture change - Briefing Before- Support During- Support After - Structured Conversation- Info- Website- Referrals

ConfidentialCounselling

© Dart Centre 2006

The Model

Entry level awareness training for all Explicit training for managers/editors Briefings BEFORE assignment Active and educated support DURING Appropriate support AFTER

Active and empathic listening Watching for signs Removing the stigma WITHIN the culture

Professional/expert support for those who need it

© Dart Centre 2006

Counselling – at the right time

© Dart Centre 2006

Feedback 1 “In changing the culture, and conveying the holistic understanding of the journalist, you’ve been spectacularly successful” – Stephen Whittle

“Extremely interesting & invaluable. Should be mandatory”

“I will spell out the risk of trauma and not treat it as taboo”

“It will change how we assign and how we treat individuals on return from a difficult assignment”

“Great to see it being formalised within the BBC “

“It helped me that very evening to deal with a reporter who'd just returned from New Orleans “

“This is vital and fills and big gap. Highly relevant “

© Dart Centre 2006

Feedback 2

“An essential tool in the job I have been doing on a daily basis”

“One of the best I have been on. Utterly jargon-free, completely mature and entirely practical. A blessed relief. More like this please “

“The aim should be that this is taught early in journalists’ career “

“Ground-breaking work in an area of increasing importance“

© Dart Centre 2006

Dart Guidelines on Images

C.f. radiation Does it need to be fed – or

watched? Sound can be the worst. Turn it

off Clear guidelines where - and

whether - graphic material is stored

Education, Training & Patience Physical Environment – windows,

greenery, screen breaks, etc

© Dart Centre 2006

Dart Centre Activity Seattle, Europe & Oz Duty-of-Care: The

Journalist BBC/Newsweek/WashPost CNN/FT/ITN/NBC Al-Jazeera

The Journalism of Trauma Bournemouth/Cardiff Univs Seattle/Michigan/Oz

Workshops/seminars Germany ARD/ZDF Russian NUJ Denmark Turkey ESTSS Portugal/Spain

Frontline Club E.g. Beslan &

Children’s trauma Tsunami Handling Violent

Images Women Reporting

War…

Website. E.g. Training Guidelines Personal Stories Trauma News Blog

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The Wrong Solution…

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Resources that we draw attention to

www.dartcentre.org europe@dartcentre.org

www.newssafety.com www.istss.org www.estss.org www.ncptsd.org