Teaching Trauma in Journalism Schools Across Cultures and Nations: Finding a Common Ground

Around the world, mental well-being education remains largely absent from journalism curricula. This is especially relevant considering young reporters are routinely assigned to cover tragic or violent events early in their careers without receiving meaningful instruction in trauma-informed practices. This syndicate discussed the lack of trauma literacy in journalism schools and how educators can effectively teach mental well-being in their classes. Participants noted the need to prepare future journalists to face the stressors of the field, enable students to become effective leaders, and that educators need more training on how to incorporate mental well-being into their curricula, including how to address daily stressors such as burnout and secondary trauma, and not just post-traumatic stress disorder from large traumatic events. In addition, participants suggested that journalism schools and practicing journalists collaborate to bring more trauma literacy to the classroom, helping students be aware of the risks that come with the profession.