Journalists and PTSD


PTSD in Journalists: The Unique Pressures and How to Get Help


Journalists face a higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder than most people realise. 

It is not only war correspondents who are affected. Investigative journalists covering abuse, corruption, organised crime, or systemic failure can also be repeatedly exposed to trauma.

 The harm does not always come from witnessing violence directly. It can build up from reviewing distressing material, hearing survivor accounts, enduring threats, or being targeted for your work.

Common PTSD symptoms in journalists include:

1. Re-experiencing

Flashbacks, nightmares, and vivid mental images of traumatic events or details.

2. Hyperarousal

Constantly being on edge, startling easily, feeling irritable, or struggling to relax.

3. Avoidance and numbing

Pulling away from friends and family, avoiding certain assignments or locations, feeling emotionally shut down.

4. Reintegration problems

Difficulty shifting from intense investigative or crisis work into everyday life, feeling isolated or “out of sync” with others.

5. Moral injury

Guilt, anger, or hopelessness from seeing wrongdoing persist despite exposure, or from being forced to make ethical compromises under pressure.

6. Defensiveness fatigue

Many investigative journalists report that the constant need to defend their reporting, their credibility, or even their character takes a toll. When you are repeatedly forced to justify yourself to hostile actors or sceptics, it reinforces the trauma and undermines recovery.

 Defending yourself once in a clear, documented way is reasonable. 

Doing it over and over can become harmful, draining emotional reserves and feeding the cycle of stress. 

Where possible, set boundaries, refer critics to one public statement or published evidence, and protect your energy.

Therapeutic approaches that can help:

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Helps process traumatic events and challenge harmful thought patterns.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT): Combines education about trauma with emotional regulation skills.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): Uses bilateral stimulation to help reprocess traumatic memories.

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET): Reconstructs a coherent life story to integrate traumatic experiences.

Complementary supports: Mindfulness, yoga, somatic therapy, group sessions, and creative expression.

Funding and access to therapy:

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Rory Peck Trust: The NUJ Therapy Fund can help pay for psychological treatment, and the Crisis Fund supports freelancers in difficulty.

Journalist Trauma Support Network (JTSN): Connects journalists with therapists trained in media-specific trauma. 

Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma: Offers fellowships, workshops, and peer support to build resilience.

Some press freedom organisations and international human rights NGOs also provide emergency mental health grants for journalists under threat.


Why this matters now:

Early recognition of PTSD symptoms is crucial. Journalists often delay getting help, believing they must stay “tough” or keep defending their work in the public arena. 

In reality, untreated trauma erodes not only mental health but also the ability to work effectively.

 Building peer support networks, setting clear boundaries with critics, and securing funding for professional therapy are essential steps.

Both conflict reporters and investigative journalists deserve long-term support structures. This is not a luxury—it is an occupational health need. 

A healthy journalist is better able to report truthfully, withstand pressure, and continue serving the public interest without burning out or breaking down.

Llm & liz 



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