Journalism and Trauma. Risk Factors and Resilience Strategies

Abstract This paper examines the issue of trauma in terms of journalistic work. Our research methods are the questionnaire, the two focus groups, and the interview with a psychologist. This work identify the characteristics that journalists acquire in the face of critical situations, the defense mechanisms assimilated following exposure to traumatic experiences, the importance of trauma training for both experienced and aspiring journalists. The results of our research indicate that journalists have not received any training in journalism schools or newsrooms for the trauma they have been exposed to. They also felt professional, relational, and psychological risk factors. As for the protective factors, the journalists relied on family and friends. None of them received specialized help from a psychologist.