Behind the Lens

This project was put forward by our intent to find out what the effects of work in the field can have on a journalist--what methods are available to cope with the adverse effects and move on from them. In our findings, we know that trauma doesn't depart from someone through avoidance. Resorting to coping methods can help deal with lingering effects of post-traumatic-stress, but finding the right support and discovering those coping methods can be difficult. Finding the answers to these questions for ourselves and our colleagues was our first intent, but we additionally wanted to shed light on this for other journalists in the industry and coming out of it. Thank you to all the professionals that encouraged us as we put the project together. Hopefully it helps. Regards, Sean Marks, Austin Lee & Dawson Enns https://soundcloud.com/sean-william-marks/behind-the-lens-pt-1-adam-macvicar https://soundcloud.com/sean-william-marks/behind-the-lens-pt2-kevin-green https://...

In pursuit of telling the story, journalists are sent to traumatic scenes and events to speak to victims and others affected. However, that can expose reporters to vicarious and direct trauma as well. They're seeing the consequences, the effects. Reporters can find themselves growing attached to stories being told of trauma, existing as a filter for what is and is not presentable on television. Professionals must consume that media, footage and story details themselves to determine how the story will be told, and will also be exposed to the raw experience of witnesses, victims, criminals and others associated with the story. Registered Psychologist Annemarie Rued-Fraser says that experiencing disturbance is a human reaction. "If you're not physically present on-site, hearing the story in-depth can in and of itself create disturbance and can create those images--those flashback images from the imagined experience; however if the person is on-site after the trauma has ...

Allie Miller is currently a reporter for CityNews Calgary, but has experience working as a foreign correspondent during instances like the New Zealand mosque shooting--where footage of the attack required vetting to ensure proper details were given. That level of detail required exposure to user-generated content, which can become a work-related stressor (Feinstein et al. 2014). It reminds you how important it is to tell those stories with tact. Miller's career started at Global News Lethbridge, hired after a week of her practicum in CTV Lethbridge. She says that within the first six months of her time in the city, there were multiple death-related cases including the Derek Saretzky case. "This is real, you know, it's not just telling a story and it reminds you how important it is to tell those stories with tact when you are giving them because it's someone's kid, it's someone's mom, it's someone's dad." Journalism requires knowing the f...

This website is a component of a capstone project between three students in the SAIT Broadcast News program. Its aim is to catalog and display our work as we move forward, as well as to showcase the final products upon completion. The intent of the project is to shine a light on the mental impact that covering hard news stories can take on reporters. While attempting to remain removed, reporters are still on the front lines of the story in order to get the details. Displaying the impacts of proximity to trauma as well as methods for coping with it and moving forward, this website is intended to exhibit such for those interested in the profession as either a career or consumer of news. Check back for updates as we continue to delve into the industry and its effects on veteran reporters!