Sunday, November 28, 2004
BATTLE-SCARRED JOURNALISTSThe Christian Science Monitor has a good piece on the effects of war and atrocities on the journalists who cover them. Randy Dotinga reports on studies that show some journalists showing symptoms of post-traumatic distress, and on an increasing awareness of the need to deal with the issue.
...some journalists, perhaps influenced by a combination of machismo and denial, fail to heed warning signs or simply don't watch for them. "We never acknowledge the impact that operating in these combat zones has on us," said Newsweek chief of correspondents Marcus Mabry, who covered the Bosnian conflict in the 1990s. "Usually when you realize it is when you don't expect it: I was back in my home in Johannesburg, sitting in my living room with a 360-degree view, relaxing in a beautiful South African evening, and I'm looking down the hill, thinking this would be a great place to have a sniper's nest. It was a war flashback." Dotinga reports it's not just war correspondents who are affected. Some journalism schools, he writes, are beginning to teach students how to cover tragedies sensitively and how to cope with their own emotions and reactions to what they see.
His article also mentions The Dart Centre for Journalism & Trauma, which should be on the bookmark list of every journalist and journalism student. |
STILL WORKING
I've had one report that the new design may be a little broken (thanks, Phayde). Trying various things. Anyone else having troubles, please drop me a note. Thanks. |
Last update: 12/1/04; 9:39:18 AM .
