Newsroom journalists at increased risk of PTSD and depression from images of extreme violence

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-08/sp-nja080714.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 7-Aug-2014

Contact: Rosalind Dewar
SAGE Publications
Newsroom journalists at increased risk of PTSD and depression from images of extreme violence

Journalists working with images of extreme violence submitted to newsrooms by the public are at increased risk of adverse psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder. New research, published today by JRSM Open, shows that frequent, repetitive viewing of traumatic images by journalists working with 'live' or User Generated Content material can be closely linked to anxiety, depression, PTSD and alcohol consumption. Frequency rather than duration of exposure to images of graphic violence is more emotionally distressing to journalists processing User Generated Content (UGC) material.

UGC is sought after by news organisations, some of which have created specific news units to edit and 'sanitise' these images for screening in news and documentary programmes.

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