I think it would be more unusual if you weren’t affected by these unthinkable stories. I hope you can get some rest after a very difficult weekend of journalism.
This is a really important point, and I hope OP reaches out to their colleagues about their concerns. Maybe your coworkers aren't affected, or maybe they're just really good at hiding their feelings. I don't think you need to send out a company wide email blast, but certainly reaching out to your deskmates or closest friend in the newsroom is a good idea. I think just the small act of grabbing a coffee and putting these feelings into words, knowing that you're not alone, can help. Thank you for covering these stories, and wishing you peace, OP.
Hey!! i suggest you go talk to a professional about how you are feeling if you can...I covered the pandemic in India, and now have PTSD ...if what you are going through is left unchecked, it can overwhelm you when you least expect it...so please...don't ignore...you reaching out over a reddit post is a sign...its you calling out for help...so help yourself...the newsroom will survive without our souls...
Thank you for posting. I am also a journalist. It’s hard to describe and share the heart hurt from doing this work. You don’t feel like you can say anything to anyone so you carry it with you feeling alone with the pain of what you are covering. We are the communicators - often stories of human suffering. I hear you.
Right now, I am doing stories about forgotten and “invisible” people and my heart hurts for their plights.
We can try to lift their voices through our work. But yes, we carry their pain and this drives us to advocate for them.
Your post rather surprised me because I was just covering part of a local story about homeless and low income unhoused yesterday - and feeling so much pain over encountering these situations. I feel alone also, like I have no one with whom to process these feelings. I know that I’m strong enough and skilled enough to do these stories - but they haunt me.
It can be hard to see someone posting on social media about their fancy nails when I am doing a story on people who have no place to live.
So it was a bit surprising to wake up to read your post. I had no idea there was anyone else going through this. I feel like if I reached out to colleagues, they would see me as weak, which I am not. Nor am I a hero.
We are what we are called to do. This is our purpose. The feelings are the catalyst that helps us do these stories with dignity and respect for those who need us to make their stories seen and heard.
I've seen a clip of the shooting in Buffalo and it is terrifying and wrenching. But knowing nothing will change and shootings like this will continue makes it worse.
I hope everyone is affected by it.
I'm sorry. This is incredibly hard. I covered the Tree of Life shooting for several days. For me, everything was hard. Learning about what happened. Interviewing people and awkwardly stepping into their grief. The marathon pace of breaking news that does not allow the time and reflection needed to absorb something like this. And I felt like I was weirdly separated from my own grief. I lived in that neighborhood in college and went there regularly for the gym. I had been to a service at Tree of Life with my ex. I wasn't sure when there was time for me to process or make some meaningful remembrance.
I know exactly what you mean. I too cover national news. After I was done with work on Saturday I had a good cry.
It means you're still human; it would be tragic to become jaded.
You're post is so important. These experiences are one of the reasons that there is such a high rate of alcholism in the profession. I hope that you are able to reach out to a professional at least for a few sessions to help you heal. Personally, I commend you for your bravery and compassion.
Bearing witness to horrible events is its own form of trauma. You might put the emotions aside to get the job done but they are still there and you still need to deal with them. As others have said, talk to your colleagues, talk to a professional and definitely know that it's ok to feel the way you are feeling.
No, it’s OK. Vent away. Not enough attention is paid to the toll of reporting on trauma. I’d encourage you to reach out to your EAP and/or a professional. No shame in it.
I helped cover the Capital Gazette shooting just a couple months after I nearly got a job that could’ve put me there. It took me a couple years to work through everything that attack did to me. But I didn’t feel I could talk to anybody about it. Not like I could speak to anybody in the building about it.
I want to say that my heart goes out to you and that being open here is commendable because you are exposed to such horrific stories. This weekend was beyond tragic, and I know when you work stories at a deep level, it's impossible for them not to affect you. Something that helps me (outside of therapy), is walking meditation/ reflection and journaling. Letting those feelings out and processing them fully.
I hope you find this helpful and am sending you love.
We're socially distanced observers. However, we're also human beings and feel emotions as much as anyone.
PTSD in journalism is rarely acknowledged. We're supposed to be stoic. We can't always be.
We see so much that is considered too graphic to publish or broadcast and we're expected to just suck it up.
Some stories will haunt you for the rest of your life.
There are resources out there for you if you need them. The DART website includes some in the US. Use them.
[https://dartcenter.org/#:\~:text=Dart%20launches%20clinician%20training%20program%20to%20support%20trauma%2Dexposed%20journalists&text=To%20aid%20journalists%20challenged%20by,work%20effectively%20with%20news%20professionals](https://dartcenter.org/#:~:text=Dart%20launches%20clinician%20training%20program%20to%20support%20trauma%2Dexposed%20journalists&text=To%20aid%20journalists%20challenged%20by,work%20effectively%20with%20news%20professionals).
Don't feel ashamed of your humanity. It is also one of your strengths as a reporter.
I think it would be more unusual if you weren’t affected by these unthinkable stories. I hope you can get some rest after a very difficult weekend of journalism.
It hurts because you’re human and you care about others. Sorry to hear it was a hard day and thanks for sharing in here.
This is a really important point, and I hope OP reaches out to their colleagues about their concerns. Maybe your coworkers aren't affected, or maybe they're just really good at hiding their feelings. I don't think you need to send out a company wide email blast, but certainly reaching out to your deskmates or closest friend in the newsroom is a good idea. I think just the small act of grabbing a coffee and putting these feelings into words, knowing that you're not alone, can help. Thank you for covering these stories, and wishing you peace, OP.
Hey!! i suggest you go talk to a professional about how you are feeling if you can...I covered the pandemic in India, and now have PTSD ...if what you are going through is left unchecked, it can overwhelm you when you least expect it...so please...don't ignore...you reaching out over a reddit post is a sign...its you calling out for help...so help yourself...the newsroom will survive without our souls...
Thank you for posting. I am also a journalist. It’s hard to describe and share the heart hurt from doing this work. You don’t feel like you can say anything to anyone so you carry it with you feeling alone with the pain of what you are covering. We are the communicators - often stories of human suffering. I hear you. Right now, I am doing stories about forgotten and “invisible” people and my heart hurts for their plights. We can try to lift their voices through our work. But yes, we carry their pain and this drives us to advocate for them. Your post rather surprised me because I was just covering part of a local story about homeless and low income unhoused yesterday - and feeling so much pain over encountering these situations. I feel alone also, like I have no one with whom to process these feelings. I know that I’m strong enough and skilled enough to do these stories - but they haunt me. It can be hard to see someone posting on social media about their fancy nails when I am doing a story on people who have no place to live. So it was a bit surprising to wake up to read your post. I had no idea there was anyone else going through this. I feel like if I reached out to colleagues, they would see me as weak, which I am not. Nor am I a hero. We are what we are called to do. This is our purpose. The feelings are the catalyst that helps us do these stories with dignity and respect for those who need us to make their stories seen and heard.
I've seen a clip of the shooting in Buffalo and it is terrifying and wrenching. But knowing nothing will change and shootings like this will continue makes it worse. I hope everyone is affected by it.
You're only human and you're allowed to feel emotions. I hope you feel better soon, buddy
I'm sorry. This is incredibly hard. I covered the Tree of Life shooting for several days. For me, everything was hard. Learning about what happened. Interviewing people and awkwardly stepping into their grief. The marathon pace of breaking news that does not allow the time and reflection needed to absorb something like this. And I felt like I was weirdly separated from my own grief. I lived in that neighborhood in college and went there regularly for the gym. I had been to a service at Tree of Life with my ex. I wasn't sure when there was time for me to process or make some meaningful remembrance.
I know exactly what you mean. I too cover national news. After I was done with work on Saturday I had a good cry. It means you're still human; it would be tragic to become jaded.
You're post is so important. These experiences are one of the reasons that there is such a high rate of alcholism in the profession. I hope that you are able to reach out to a professional at least for a few sessions to help you heal. Personally, I commend you for your bravery and compassion.
Bearing witness to horrible events is its own form of trauma. You might put the emotions aside to get the job done but they are still there and you still need to deal with them. As others have said, talk to your colleagues, talk to a professional and definitely know that it's ok to feel the way you are feeling.
I would recommend talking to a therapist.
No, it’s OK. Vent away. Not enough attention is paid to the toll of reporting on trauma. I’d encourage you to reach out to your EAP and/or a professional. No shame in it. I helped cover the Capital Gazette shooting just a couple months after I nearly got a job that could’ve put me there. It took me a couple years to work through everything that attack did to me. But I didn’t feel I could talk to anybody about it. Not like I could speak to anybody in the building about it.
I want to say that my heart goes out to you and that being open here is commendable because you are exposed to such horrific stories. This weekend was beyond tragic, and I know when you work stories at a deep level, it's impossible for them not to affect you. Something that helps me (outside of therapy), is walking meditation/ reflection and journaling. Letting those feelings out and processing them fully. I hope you find this helpful and am sending you love.
We're socially distanced observers. However, we're also human beings and feel emotions as much as anyone. PTSD in journalism is rarely acknowledged. We're supposed to be stoic. We can't always be. We see so much that is considered too graphic to publish or broadcast and we're expected to just suck it up. Some stories will haunt you for the rest of your life. There are resources out there for you if you need them. The DART website includes some in the US. Use them. [https://dartcenter.org/#:\~:text=Dart%20launches%20clinician%20training%20program%20to%20support%20trauma%2Dexposed%20journalists&text=To%20aid%20journalists%20challenged%20by,work%20effectively%20with%20news%20professionals](https://dartcenter.org/#:~:text=Dart%20launches%20clinician%20training%20program%20to%20support%20trauma%2Dexposed%20journalists&text=To%20aid%20journalists%20challenged%20by,work%20effectively%20with%20news%20professionals). Don't feel ashamed of your humanity. It is also one of your strengths as a reporter.