2024.Mar.22

REPORTS

Report on Lecture by Dr. Cait McMahon
“Covering Trauma: Building Mental Fitness for Journalists”

 

On February 13, 2024, the Trauma Reporting Study Group welcomed Dr. Cait McMahon OAM, a psychologist from Australia and a leading expert on the intersection of trauma and journalism, to the University of Tokyo for a public lecture titled “Covering Trauma: Building Mental Fitness for Journalists,” which was broadcasted via webinar (the archive video was provided for a limited time on YouTube).

 

◾️Meta Cognition – Observing Oneself

The Moderator, Kawahara, explained the intention of the lecture, stating, “Journalists confronting their own emotional pain and understanding the mechanisms of and responses to it will help them deeply understand others’ pain and lead to more accurate and sustainable reporting.”

McMahon introduced the concept of “meta cognition,” or objectively recognizing one’s own perceptions, emphasizing the importance of learning it today. She noted that even discussing trauma can trigger emotions for participants who have experienced trauma themselves. However, McMahon emphasized that experiencing such emotions or confusion is not shameful and encouraged participants to observe themselves from an external perspective and recognize their feelings. She highlighted that learning this technique can also be beneficial when interviewing individuals who have experienced trauma. This became the underlying theme of the lecture.

McMahon also mentioned, “What I am about to discuss will be beneficial not only for journalists but also for a wide range of information professionals.” McMahon regards information professionals as “any professional who gather and scrutinize information, using ethics, impartiality and accuracy to hold power to account and to inform society,” which includes human rights workers, fact-checkers, librarians, historians, and academics.

Given this premise, McMahon discussed the impact of trauma in the first half of the lecture and provided coping strategies in the latter half.

The discussion was highly specific, and participants expressed a desire for further sessions.

The summary of the lecture is as follows:

 

1.  Know the Impacts

Let’s start by understanding the impacts of trauma and excessive stress on us.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is just one of its impacts. It occurs when exposed to life-threatening situations such as death, imminent death, or sexual violence. Those who cover major disasters or tragedies, such as the Great East Japan Earthquake or the sinking of the South Korean ferry Sewol, have a higher likelihood of developing PTSD compared to general reporters. Exposure not only occurs on-site but also when viewing vivid images online for work, such as confirming footage of child abuse or researching war crimes online as human rights activists.

Furthermore, there are other forms of trauma. Women and sexual minorities may experience significant impact from online harassment, facing sexual attacks or verbal abuse that men do not usually experience.

However, “trauma” extends beyond clinical definitions and can also have political, structural, or community significance.

McMahon aims to remove the stigma around the impact of trauma on the brain caused by extreme stress. Journalists often lament their own trauma as if it were a sign of mental weakness. However, all animals react to trauma in some physiological way.

For example, the hippocampus in the brain is responsible for memory, so extreme stress can affect memory retrieval, leading to difficulty narrating events chronologically. Understanding this can help recognize that when interviewing someone who has experienced trauma, confusion in storytelling is not necessarily lying but rather a result of trauma.

Australian journalist E.B. says, ” Being trauma aware is about two things, first it is about our mental health as journalists, but it is equally about learning important and advanced journalism skills that will make us better reporters. These skills in understanding trauma will change our interview technique and deepen the way we craft peoples’ stories at the worst time of their lives.”

That is to say, it is essential for journalists to recognize the potential impact of trauma on themselves and acquire skills to deal with trauma, which can deepen their interactions with interviewees.

It is also crucial for managers and organizations to recognize the potential effects of trauma and fulfill their duty of care.

 

◾️Various Stressors

In addition to trauma, there are various stressors, such as daily stress.

Situations where there are too many things to do daily and exceed one’s coping capacity can lead to chronic severe stress. If you experience things like “not being able to sleep” or “having a bad relationship with your family,” it is necessary to assess what is happening to you and start dealing with it.

Burnout is also experienced by journalists at a high rate. According to the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11), burnout syndrome is not a medical condition but rather an occupational phenomenon. It has three aspects, including a feeling of depleted energy.

Furthermore, we have been researching moral distress and moral injury recently. Moral distress arises when one is ordered by others or does something that deviates from their morals, causing pain from guilt or shame. While this pain itself is not necessarily bad as it allows discernment between good and evil, if it persists, it can impair morals and hinder performance. The term “moral injury” originated from studies of soldiers.

 

◾️Post-Traumatic Growth

Finally, I would like to talk about PTG (post-traumatic growth).

It is sometimes misunderstood as “it was good to have a terrible experience.”

PTG occurs when experiencing significant mental distress. After experiencing a very traumatic event, new experiences occur concurrently. It is a positive experience where (1) inner strength is born, (2) relationships with others are strengthened, (3) existential beliefs change, (4) deeper understanding of life is gained, and (5) new possibilities are felt.

A few years ago, I conducted research on journalists regarding this phenomenon. As a result, I found that journalists who are trauma-aware and have received trauma-related education, such as today’s lecture, experience greater PTG than journalists who have not had such experiences. Proper education is essential. Journalists who have experienced PTG understand traumatic events they have reported on more deeply and have actually used various coping methods. They rethink their role as journalists and the meaning of their work in their lives, undergoing existential reassessment.

 

2.  Resilience

Now, let’s talk about how we can stay grounded and cope with challenges.

It is well known that journalists are resilient individuals.

Some people believe that resilience is innate, but I see it as a “process” of positively adapting to difficulties and adversities. It is not an easy path, but we can learn resilient mindset and action. For example, (1) maintaining optimism about the future, (2) having confidence in coping abilities, and (3) viewing threats as challenges.

I would like to introduce coping methods that you can actually use.

 

◾️ Eleven Coping Methods

(1) Traumatic Imagery – Wearing “Radiation Suit”

When encountering online or witnessed scenes that may lead to trauma, predict beforehand, for example, before clicking, “there may be vivid images,” and consider how to deal with it.
Wear what I call “radiation suit.” Then, minimize exposure to traumatic images. For example, by lowering the screen’s color intensity or reducing size of viewing window.
Also, take breaks at regular intervals. For example, after viewing the screen for 20 minutes, take a 5-minute break to walk to the restroom or engage in other activities.
If possible, separate the devices used for work and those used at home.

 

(2) Deep Breathing

Inhale while counting to three, hold your breath while counting to five, and exhale slowly while counting to eight.

 

(3) Cognitive Reframing – Changing Perspectives

While we cannot change what happens, we can change how we think about it. If you find yourself increasingly negative about what has happened, stop thinking about it.
Realistic optimism is also important. In challenging situations, consider what can realistically be done.

 

(4) Visualize Calm and Safety

When emotions are turbulent, recall scenes of calm, serene, and safe places you have experienced before to create a safe place in your mind.

 

(5) Work/Life Balance – More Life than Work!

Create time for activities you enjoy, whether it’s karaoke or hiking. If you don’t have time for that, it indicates the need to allocate time for enjoyment itself.

 

(6) Sense of Mission and Purpose – Write Down Your Mission

Particularly important regarding moral injury. Reflect on why you want to be a journalist or why you are doing this job and write down your mission. Then, during tough times, reread it and reconsider why this work is important.

 

(7) Grounding Techniques – Know How to Regain Composure

When feeling spacey or floaty, stand up and walk, feel the ground beneath your feet, drink cold water, or count nearby green objects to return to reality. This not only helps you but also assists interviewees who may mentally return to the trauma time and are no longer present.

 

(8) Social Support – Build Relationships, Get a Mentor

Social support is important after experiencing trauma. Find someone you can consult or share your feelings with, even if it’s just one person. Consider who you can talk to when facing work challenges or who you want to celebrate with when something good happens. Also, ensure you have a mentor, someone older whom you respect, to turn to when faced with ethical dilemmas.
According to research, resilience is strengthened not only when receiving support but also when providing social support to others. So, consider who you can support.

 

(9) Time Management – Establish Boundaries, not 24/7

You must learn to say no. For example, would you respond if a source called at 3 a.m.? Establishing boundaries is crucial.

 

(10) Managing Intrusions (thoughts and nightmares)

If intrusive thoughts or emotions inevitably enter your mind, label them as “not happening now” or “just passing thoughts” to avoid dwelling on them. Try the 3-5-8 breathing exercise and focus on your breath. Engage in physical activity, listen to music, and return your consciousness to the present moment.
When repeatedly having nightmares, consider and write out different endings to the story and read them repeatedly during the day.

 

(11) Online Harassment Prevention

If feeling threatened, take it seriously and report it to your organization, the police, or someone else. For women or sexual minorities, using a VPN to avoid being tracked online and turning off location services is advisable. Separate social media accounts for work and personal use.
Additionally, create a network to consult with other journalists experiencing online harassment.

 

If any of these coping methods interest you, try them out. Share with your peers, “I intend to use this strategy,” and report on your progress. If it doesn’t work out, stop and try something else. As homework, I encourage you to try them out first.