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The Case for Trauma Awareness in Journalism

Would you assign an economic illiterate to cover the current global credit crisis? Would you send someone who knows nothing about cycling to cover the Tour de France?

 
 Journalism Training at Bournemouth
On the whole, probably not.

Now consider this. If trauma - as in, extreme human distress - makes up something like two thirds of our daily news agenda (check today's newspaper if you disagree), wouldn't it be a good idea for journalists to know a little bit about emotions and how human beings - themselves included - really function when their world is breaking down around them?

And if you're a journalist yourself, how much training did you ever have in understanding and reporting emotions and trauma? If you're like most of us, almost certainly none

At Braynework, we believe it's essential for journalists to be trained and briefed in trauma awareness early in their education and career - as students now are at Bournemouth University Media School, for example, working in this page's picture with professional actors.
Being emotionally aware in journalism isn't about packing everyone off to counselling. What it's about is creating and holding a space where journalists can give themselves and each other permission to be human beings as well as reporters.

It makes, we believe, for better journalism, and for better balanced journalists. Good for the practitioner. Good for business and the bottom line. Good for audiences and readers. Possibly, even, good for the planet.

Working in recent years with the US-based Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma, Mark is now a global leader in developing and delivering this training.

If you'd like to know more, do get in touch.
 Some recent testimonials

"The best training I've ever had - we should have had this in the newsroom decades ago."

"I can't thank you enough - your support has been literally life-saving."

"We've worked together for more than 10 years and had never before heard each other's experiences. It's made such a difference."