The Role of Ghanaian Media Organisations in Fostering Resilience Against PTSD: The Case of Multimedia Group Limited

Negativity as a news value in journalism often implies direct or indirect exposure of journalists to traumatic events in the course of their duties. Hence, the need for resiliency and protection of journalists through organisational support has been advanced in the literature, especially by Global North scholars. However, there seems to be a dearth of such studies within the African context, especially in Ghana. Therefore, this study employs a qualitative approach and case study design to gather data through a focus group discussion with purposively selected officials and interviews with two former journalists with traumatic experience from Multimedia Group Limited to investigate how institutional response to traumatic experience enhances or undermines the psychological well-being of journalists. Data gathered were thematically analysed through the lens of the organisational support theory. Findings reveal that the company is yet to have an institutionalised mental well-being policy. However, it depends on discretion and the severity of traumatic experience to offer support to the journalists before, during and after coverage of traumatic events in an ad hoc manner. The discretionary basis for the support gives room for unhealthy comparisons and subjective interpretations of support given to journalists with traumatic experiences by the company.