Journalism and Trauma: How News Coverage on the Front Lines Can Impact Mental Health
Open Access
- Author:
- Pelella, Rory
- Area of Honors:
- Journalism
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Russell Frank, Thesis Honors Advisor
Russell Edgar Eshleman, Jr., Thesis Supervisor - Keywords:
- Journalism
trauma
insurrection
Black Lives Matter protests
Ed Ou
Kate Woodsome
Frank Thorp
Emily Cochrane
Tom Williams
John Quiñones
Paul Albergo
journalism and trauma
frontline news coverage
journalists and mental health
journalists and trauma
reporting on the front lines - Abstract:
- The following thesis will examine and analyze the experiences of seven journalists from a variety of news organizations and networks: ABC, NBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Roll Call, and Bloomberg Industry Group. The common thread that ties those seven individuals together is that they’ve all been exposed to at least one (but in many cases, multiple) dangerous and/or life-threatening situation on the job. For example, some of the journalists I interviewed were in the Capitol during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Others were covering protests at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. Others have been overseas to cover wars, international conflicts, and natural disasters. Most, if not all, have continued reporting throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Thus, this thesis will provide insight into what it’s like to be a journalist on the frontlines. But more importantly, I’ve dedicated a significant portion of each interview to a discussion on trauma and mental health. I’ve asked each journalist to identify and explain how their various experiences have impacted them on a personal level, and whether exposure to trauma has affected the trajectory of their careers or their overall perspective on the journalism profession.