Contextualizing Psychological Outcomes for TV News Journalists: Role Differences in Industry Culture, Organizational Hierarchy and Trauma Exposure

Abstract

Research indicates that TV news journalists’ ongoing exposure to trauma can result in psychopathology. However, we currently know little about potential differences in trauma exposure between individuals in varying journalistic roles. The aim of this study is to contextualize the existing knowledge of psychological outcomes for TV news journalists and to complement current deductive trends in literature by asking: How do TV news journalists of differing roles and responsibilities experience unique factors that ultimately influence their trauma exposure? Individuals in journalistic roles that experience differences in their exposure to trauma compared to other roles, may be at risk of elevated psychopathology or in need of greater support to prevent distress. A social constructivist approach was adopted and in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 Australian TV news camera-operators and reporters. Analysis was conducted according to a systematic and transparent thematic analysis. The findings suggest that TV news camera operators and reporters experience differences in: (1) experiences of industry culture within organizational hierarchy, (2) role expectations of physical proximity to trauma, and (3) social visibility during trauma exposure. By considering role-based differences, this study recommends resources and support necessary for reporters and camera operators. The present findings inform news organizations providing support for their staff, and news consumers of the circumstances under which news workers perform roles.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and extend great appreciation to: (1) all of the camera operators and reporters who kindly agreed to participate in this study, (2) Taryn Humphries and Timothy MacDonald for assistance with the transcription of interviews, and (3) Samiksha Rampersad for editorial assistance with this manuscript.

Declaration of interest statement

Declarations of interest: none.

Author note

Jasmine B. MacDonald, at the time of developing this manuscript was Lecturer in the Discipline of Psychological Sciences, Australian College of Applied Psychology, and Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University. Jasmine has since relocated from Australian College of Applied Psychology to RMIT University (ORCiD ID 0000-0003-3012-4496; twitter.com/Jaz_MacDonald; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-macdonald-nee-thomas-20331088/); Rachael Fox, Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University (ORCiD ID 0000-0002-2347-8619;); Anthony J. Saliba, Professor in the School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University (ORCiD ID 0000-0002-4823-4602).

This work was conducted under the provision of an Australian Postgraduate Award to the first author. However, the Australian Government were not involved in the topic selection for the research or in any other phase of the research or decision to submit for publication.

The findings reported within this manuscript have not been published elsewhere. The data reported in this manuscript comes from the same interview study that has been the foundation of two other research outputs (MacDonald, 2017; MacDonald & Fox, 2018). This manuscript has not been submitted simultaneously elsewhere.

Notes

1 The first author initially developed the description provided after a week of ethnographic observation of a TV news crew, and the assessment of basic newsroom elements and layout was then discussed and confirmed with the interview participants.