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JOURNALISTS AT WAR
The impact of hostile environments on journalists
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Often described as the first draft of history, journalism provides the opportunity for
us to consume the latest news events across the globe. Especially during times of
conflict, journalism allows viewers to see just a snippet of reality on the other side of
the world.
Each evening we switch on our TV screens, 攀lled with the senseless horror of terror and war. Lasting no
longer than 攀ve minutes, we turn o眀 from the latest con琀ict onto the next segment our news providers
have chosen for us.
1,000
Between 1996-2006 a total of 1000 journalists
were killed for doing their jobs. That is 2 per week.
83
Journalists died violently in 1996, prompting the
rst annual 'Kill the Messenger' report.
9 out of 10
Perpetrators walk free
Share
Journalist Statistics Create your own infographics
Statistics can be found at Audioboom.com Title: Dying to tell the story: scores of journalists killed each year
for doing their jobs. Podcast by Rodney Pinder.
However, we forget the journalist left behind on the other side of the camera, vulnerable to the terror
and psychological risks, the ultimate cost for war correspondents. In a recent survey, 62% of
respondents were completely unaware that journalists found themselves receiving counselling due to
the environment they were working in. Posing as international watchdogs, foreign correspondents are
detrimental for informing us with what is happening within these hostile environments. Over the past
decade, war reporting has always been considered unsafe, with journalists frequently getting caught up
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2. 23/06/2016 About ­ Journalists at war
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in the midst of con琀ict.
“Already in 2016, 25 journalists and media staff have been
killed.”
Whether journalists are accidentally killed, injured or left traumatised, the number of deaths amongst
reporters has never been higher than it is now. Listing Syria as the most dangerous place for journalists
to work, reporters are continuing to reach these con琀ict zones without the correct precautions in place.
Starting their career as an unbiased dispatcher, war and con琀ict is commonly celebrated in the media.
As journalists report for our entertainment, war reporting is one of the most dangerous occupations in
the world. With some journalists being deliberately targeted and killed, their stories are being silenced.
In some countries, journalists are singled out and murdered to prevent a story from reaching the
mainstream media.
Statistics have shown that eight out of ten murderers of journalists have never been prosecuted,
convicted or punished and almost nine out of ten perpetrators walk free. Without the direct punishment
procedures in place, it only leaves more opportunity for journalists’ lives to be at risk. Between 1996-
2006 a total of 1000 journalists were killed for doing their jobs, which is almost two per week.
Although journalists pose the ultimate risk of losing their lives, there is also the risk of impacting their
psychological health when reporting from hostile zones. Witnessing unbearable terror including deaths,
con琀ict, violence and su眀ering can increase the risk of developing symptoms of trauma and Post-
traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
In 2003, a survey found that more than a quarter of war correspondents struggle with Post-traumatic
Stress Disorder. However, for the everyday reporter working for their local news outlet, most journalists
come into contact with graphic content at some point of their career. Being exposed to graphic user-
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Do you think news organisations need to make it
compulsory for journalists working in hostile
environments to attend counselling sessions upon
returning home?
Vote Votes 1
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No
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generated content (UGC) and covering di☀cult court or sexual abuse cases can still have the same
psychological impact as a con琀ict zone. For many journalists watching heavy content or being exposed
to distressing evidence repeatedly for a long period of time, can still induce the same symptoms as a
journalist working in Syria.
Although the right research has been carried out and awareness is increasing every year, we are still
faced with the same outcome. Journalists are dying every year and the numbers are not decreasing.
Already in 2016, 25 journalists and media sta眀 have been killed. Journalists still continue to come
forward with memoirs and books describing their time as a foreign correspondent, yet little is being
done to educate and equip journalists with the support they need to protect their safety, psychological
health and even their life.
“Between 1996-2006 a total of 1000 journalists were killed
for doing their job, which is almost two per week.”
Supporting organisations have put the education in place, but journalists are still su眀ering with mental
illness following their time being exposed to graphic content. Although bigger news organisations are
picking up on this matter, freelance journalists are even more at risk. In a recent survey, 38 participants
agreed that news outlets should o眀er a helpline or support system for journalists.
The increased use of UGC allows almost anyone to become a journalist. Recording distressing footage
and using the Internet as a global network to spread their story, we as viewers are now also becoming
exposed to some of the content that editors sieve through everyday.
“In a recent survey, 62% of respondents were completely
unaware that journalists found themselves receiving
counselling due to the environment they were working in.”
In a recent survey, 81% of participants believed that student journalists should be educated on the
di☀culties working in a hostile environment. Every year, more and more journalists are entering con琀ict
zones with little or no training. Furthermore for the freelance reporter, no support is provided when
they are covering violence, tragedy and war.
From the personal accounts of six reporters to the psychologists and scientists, we investigate the
impact of hostile environments on journalists.
If you want to 攀nd out more about previous studies and research regarding the impact on journalist’s
physical and psychological safety when covering hostile stories, then get in touch with us us here or via
our Twitter.
Tweet Follow @ReportersAtWar Tweet #JournalistsAtWar Tweet to @ReportersAtWar
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