The impact of grief journalism on its subjects: lessons from the Pike River mining disaster

Abstract

ABSTRACT The depiction of grief and intense anxiety is commonplace in modern journalism. Little work has been done, however, to examine the impact of the collection and publication of such material on those who appear in it. This article explores that issue, drawing both on secondary literature and the authors’ original qualitative research into the experiences of family members of 29 men killed in a New Zealand mining tragedy. It concludes that the effects of grief-focused journalism on its subjects can be significant. Five negative impacts are explored: fear and loss of physical security; stress and loss of emotional equilibrium; feelings of violation and exploitation; loss of autonomy and control; and interference with relationships and emotional recovery.