Australia’s ABC News has developed a ground-breaking programme to prepare journalists and
crews for covering potentially traumatic events.
The ABC’s Trauma Awareness Program was developed in collaboration with the
Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma.
In developing the courses, Heather Forbes from ABC News said she was
conscious that journalists and crews work in a demanding environment of
deadline pressures and high levels of responsibility.
“Almost by definition news is about change, fast-paced events, confrontation
and sometimes conflict,” Ms Forbes said. “Some stories, such as war, road
crashes, crime, violence, bushfires and other natural disasters may be
especially stressful and traumatic.”
The ABC has hundreds of journalists, producers, camera crews, editors and
technical staff working Australia and overseas who deal with covering
potentially traumatic events.
“Given the importance of this issue to the ABC, it was crucial to develop a
program of education, training and support that met the needs of staff and
to raise the awareness of the issues of stress and trauma in the workplace,”
Ms Forbes said.
Cait McMahon of the Dart Centre says most staff are resilient, and with good
management and a supportive work culture will cope well with reporting
traumatic events.
“But a minority of staff exposed to trauma will develop mental health
problems,” Ms McMahon says.
The ABC programme takes a three-tier approach: peer support group training,
manager awareness and staff awareness. The training sessions begin with a
powerful documentary made by ABC News in which ABC journalists and
production staff talk about their experiences of covering traumatic events.
The Trauma Awareness programme has already been rolled out in Western
Australia and training sessions are planned for the rest of the country over
coming months.
On Sunday 24 June on ABC TV at 2130, Compass examines the trauma experienced by
journalists. Former ABC News Correspondent Philip Williams speaks about his
experience of the traumatic aftermath of covering the Beslan massacre.
Philip also speaks to other journalists about their experiences.