The Hidden Toll: Investigating Trauma and Resilience in Conflict Reporting
Guest Editors
Maha Bashri, United Arab Emirates University (UAE)
Lada Price, University of Sheffield (UK)
Ola Ogunyemi, University of Lincoln (UK)
Desiree Hill, University of Oklahoma (USA)
Overview
Conflict reporters face unique psychological challenges due to repeated exposure to traumatic events. Traditionally, conflict journalism has focused on reporting from war zones and areas of armed conflict. However, this special issue adopts a broader definition, recognizing that conflict extends beyond armed warfare to include political and societal challenges. We consider conflict journalism to encompass reporting on organized crime, contentious elections, school shootings, and other situations of heightened tension or violence. This expanded view allows us to explore the complex interplay between trauma, resilience, and post-traumatic growth across a wider spectrum of high-stress reporting contexts. We aim to examine the personal, professional, and organizational factors that enable journalists to withstand and recover from traumatic experiences, contributing to the development of effective support strategies for journalists’ mental health and well-being in high-stress environments.
Drawing on the concept of “collective resilience” (Dunkel Schetter & Dolbier, 2011) and recent research on resilience in high-stress professions (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013; Šimunjak, 2023), we seek to understand how resilience can be fostered within conflict journalism. This issue will pay particular attention to the diverse experiences of journalists from different backgrounds, especially those from the Global South and female reporters in conflict zones.
Theoretical Framework
This special issue adopts a multifaceted theoretical framework integrating insights from journalism studies, psychology, organizational theory, and ethics:
1.
Trauma Theory: We draw on trauma theory, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) concepts (Dworznik & Grubb, 2007; Jukes, 2015; Smith et al., 2018), to examine the cumulative effects of witnessing and reporting on violence, disaster, and human suffering. Recent research explores specific psychological impacts on journalists, including anxiety, depression, and burnout (Calumbiran, 2021; Obermaier et al., 2023).
2
We also incorporate vicarious traumatization to understand indirect trauma experiences
(Jukes et al. 2021; Banerjee & Kumar, 2024).
2.
Systems Theory: Adopting a systems theory perspective (Von Bertalanffy, 2010), we examine how individual, organizational, and societal factors interact to shape journalists’ experiences. This approach considers how newsroom cultures, industry norms, and broader societal attitudes influence trauma experiences and support availability (Avey et al., 2011; Kelloway et al., 2023).
3.
Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives: We incorporate feminist and intersectional perspectives (Crenshaw, 1989) to understand how factors such as gender, race, nationality, and cultural background impact journalists’ experiences of trauma and access to support. Recent studies on intersectionality in media and conflict reporting (Peterson-Salahuddin, 2023; Ramasubramanian & Banjo, 2020) guide our exploration of diverse experiences and culturally specific support models.
4.
Care Ethics: We consider the ethical dimensions of trauma-informed journalism through care ethics (Rentschler, 2010; Steiner, 2021), encouraging a re-evaluation of journalistic practices and news values considering potential harm to both subjects and reporters. Recent developments in media ethics (Buchanan & Keats, 2011; Feng, 2022) inform our discussion of ethical decision-making in high-stress environments.
Topics of Interest
We invite contributions exploring various aspects of trauma and resilience in conflict reporting, including:
Trauma and the Global South Journalist Experience
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Cultural factors mediating trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms
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Culturally specific trauma models for diverse backgrounds
Gender Dynamics and Trauma in Conflict Journalism
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Intersectional identities’ influence on trauma experiences and coping strategies
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Feminist perspectives on gendered experiences of trauma in reporting
Organizational Approaches to Trauma-Informed Journalism
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Organizational culture’s role in fostering post-traumatic growth
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Interaction between organizational factors and individual characteristics
Trauma, Resilience, and Post-Traumatic Growth in Journalism
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Development of trauma resilience models specific to conflict journalism
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Factors contributing to post-traumatic growth in journalists
Trauma Training and Support for Journalism Students and trainees
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Integration of trauma theory and resilience frameworks into journalism education
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Innovative pedagogical approaches for preparing students
Secondary Trauma in Conflict Research and Education
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Manifestation and impact of secondary trauma in journalism educators and researchers
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Theoretical models for understanding and mitigating secondary trauma in academic settings
Methodological Approaches
We encourage diverse methodological approaches, including but not limited to:
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Longitudinal studies
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Mixed methods approaches
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Comparative studies across cultural contexts and conflict zones
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Digital ethnography of online support communities
Ethical Considerations
All submissions must address ethical implications thoroughly, including:
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Potential risks to participants and harm minimization strategies
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Informed consent procedures
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Data protection and confidentiality measures
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Researcher self-care and secondary trauma management strategies
Submission Guidelines
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Abstract submission deadline (500 words max and brief author bio -max 100 words): should be sent no later than December 20, 2024 to traumajournalism@gmail.com
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Notification of abstract acceptance: By end of January 2025
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Full manuscript submission deadline: September 12, 2025
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Peer review process: September – November 2025
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Revised manuscript submission: January 31, 2026
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Final decisions: By end of February 2026
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Publication date: March/April 2026
Upon selection, scholars will be invited to submit full papers
Full papers should not exceed 8,000 words, including references. All submissions will undergo rigorous full blind peer review based on originality, theoretical contribution, methodological rigor, and practical significance in accordance with the peer-review procedure of Journalism.
Manuscripts will be submitted through the journal’s ScholarOne website. Authors must indicate that they wish to have their manuscript considered for this Special Issue.
Contact Information
For inquiries, please contact:
traumajournalism@gmail.com
We look forward to receiving your contributions to this important and timely special issue on trauma and resilience in conflict reporting.
Guest Editors
Maha Bashri, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Communication at the United Arab Emirates University. Her research centers on political communication and technology’s impact on social change in the Global South, especially in African contexts. She is the Research Chair for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) International Communication Division.
Lada Trifonova Price is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Journalism, Media and Communication University of Sheffield, UK. Her current research focuses on challenges to media freedom and journalistic practice in Eastern and Southern European democracies as well as examining physical and psychological threats to the safety of journalists globally. She is the Chair of the ECREA Journalism Studies Section and Chair of the Association of Journalism Education, UK.
Olatunji Ogunyemi, PhD, is a Professor of Journalism at the School of Education and Communication, University of Lincoln, UK. Ogunyemi is the founder of Journalism Education and Trauma Research Group (JETREG) and the Media of Diaspora Research Group (MDRG) and the founder/principal editor of Global Diaspora and Media.
Desiree Hill, PhD, is the Assistant Dean at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma. Her research has concentrated the intersections of management, leadership, education, student journalism and trauma. She is the North American leader of the Journalism Education Trauma Research Group (JETREG) and a Fulbright Specialist for broadcast television management.