© Dart Centre 2006 Trauma & News Training & Culture Change Mark Brayne, Director Europe Dart Centre for Journalism &Trauma
Jan 15, 2016
© 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 [email protected]
www.newssafety.com www.istss.org www.estss.org www.ncptsd.org