Teaching vicarious trauma in the journalism classroom: an examination of educational provision in UK Universities

Specht, D. and Tsilman, J. 2018. Teaching vicarious trauma in the journalism classroom: an examination of educational provision in UK Universities. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies . 7 (2), pp. 407-427. https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms.7.2.407_1

TitleTeaching vicarious trauma in the journalism classroom: an examination of educational provision in UK Universities
TypeJournal article
AuthorsSpecht, D. and Tsilman, J.
Abstract

The connections between vicarious trauma and the viewing of violent User-Generated Content are becoming an increasingly important topic in journalism. As more journalist work begins to rely, or at least incorporate UGC, the risks to journalists have been shown to increase. This can lead to short, unpleasant careers, and in some cases, serious, long lasting mental health risks. Yet while this discussion is beginning to unfold in the newsroom, universities are lagging behind in their understanding of the topic. This paper, through content analysis of undergraduate course materials, and through interviews with lecturers and journalists, found that almost no course in the UK is teaching the risks of vicarious trauma or UGC. It was found that while some educators wish to make more of the topic, a number of institutional factors, such as lack of training and time, worries over duty of care, and available resources make this a difficult, if not impossible task. The paper recommends a new emphasis is placed on vicarious trauma, coupled with training and interdepartmental support.

KeywordsPTSD, Journalism, Social Media, Education, Training, User Generated Content
JournalJournal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies
Journal citation7 (2), pp. 407-427
ISSN2001-0818
Year2018
PublisherIntellect
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1386/ajms.7.2.407_1
Publication dates
Published01 Jul 2018

Related outputs

Mapping the Unmappable: Cartography at war
Specht, D. 2024. Mapping the Unmappable: Cartography at war. Livingmaps Review. 16, pp. 1-17.

Doctoral writing through a trajectorial lens: an exploratory study on challenges, strategies and relationships
Gimenez, J., Paterson, R. and Specht, D. 2024. Doctoral writing through a trajectorial lens: an exploratory study on challenges, strategies and relationships. Higher Education. 87, pp. 491-508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01019-7

MODEL REPORT: INFORM Risk Index
Specht, D. 2023. MODEL REPORT: INFORM Risk Index. UN OCHA.

Future Trends in Geospatial Information Management (3rd Edition)
Specht, D. 2023. Future Trends in Geospatial Information Management (3rd Edition). UN-GGIM.

Geospatial Technologies in Archaeology
Kent, A.J. and Specht, D. 2023. Geospatial Technologies in Archaeology. in: Kent, A.J. and Specht, D. (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Geospatial Technologies and Society Routledge.

Geospatial Technology and the Sustainable Development Goals
Specht, D. 2023. Geospatial Technology and the Sustainable Development Goals. in: Kent, A.J. and Specht, D. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Geospatial Technology and Society Abingdon, Oxon Routledge.

Between the Office and the Coffee Shop: A examination of spaces used for research degree supervision
Specht, D. 2022. Between the Office and the Coffee Shop: A examination of spaces used for research degree supervision. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. 23. https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi23.828

Frack-Off: Social media fights against Fracking in Argentina
Raftopoulos, M. and Specht, D. 2022. Frack-Off: Social media fights against Fracking in Argentina. Environmental Communication. 16 (5), pp. 598-611. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2021.2018002

Environmental Movements and Digital Media
Kavada, A. and Specht, D. 2022. Environmental Movements and Digital Media. in: Routledge Handbook of Environmental Movements Routledge.

The Technopolitics of Mapping Dar es Salaam: An examination of the technological and political motivations of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team / La tecnopolítica de la cartografía de Dar es Salaam: Un examen de las motivaciones tecnológicas y políticas del equipo humanitario OpenStreetMap
Specht, D. 2021. The Technopolitics of Mapping Dar es Salaam: An examination of the technological and political motivations of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team / La tecnopolítica de la cartografía de Dar es Salaam: Un examen de las motivaciones tecnológicas y políticas del equipo humanitario OpenStreetMap. Espacio, Tiempo y Forma. Serie VI, Geografía. 14, pp. 193-216. https://doi.org/10.5944/etfvi.14.2021.30644

Cézanne the Cartographer
Specht, D. 2021. Cézanne the Cartographer. in: Cartographies of the Imagination London pp. 90-91

Developing Belief in Online Teaching: Efficacy and Digital Transformation
Specht, D., Chatterton, P., Hartley, P. and Saunders, G. 2021. Developing Belief in Online Teaching: Efficacy and Digital Transformation. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice. 9 (2), pp. 68-76. https://doi.org/10.14297/jpaap.v9i2.486

The Self(ie) in the Anthropocene
Specht, D. and Snyder, C. 2021. The Self(ie) in the Anthropocene. in: Harper, E.T. and Specht, D. (ed.) Imagining Apocalyptic Politics in the Anthropocene Routledge.

The Media and Communications Study Skills Student Guide
Specht, D. 2019. The Media and Communications Study Skills Student Guide . London University of Westminster Press.

The Issue of Blogging: Using Visual Network Analysis to go Beyond Self-reporting Studies of Blogging
Specht, D. 2019. The Issue of Blogging: Using Visual Network Analysis to go Beyond Self-reporting Studies of Blogging. Journal of Learning and Teaching in the Digital Age. 4 (2), pp. 10-24.

Crowdsourced Mapping in Crisis Zones: Collaboration, Organisation and Impact
Hunt, A. and Specht, D. 2019. Crowdsourced Mapping in Crisis Zones: Collaboration, Organisation and Impact. Journal of International Humanitarian Action. 4 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-018-0048-1

Did You Find the World or Did You Make it Up? Media, Communications and Geography in the Digital Age
Specht, D. 2018. Did You Find the World or Did You Make it Up? Media, Communications and Geography in the Digital Age. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture. 13 (2), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.16997/wpcc.298

Geographic Protest: The Role of Counter-Mapping in Supporting Campaigns Against Large-Scale Extractive Projects in Colombia: The Case of La Colosa
Specht, D. 2018. Geographic Protest: The Role of Counter-Mapping in Supporting Campaigns Against Large-Scale Extractive Projects in Colombia: The Case of La Colosa. Livingmaps Review. 5.

From the cartographic gaze to contestatory cartographies
Specht, D. 2018. From the cartographic gaze to contestatory cartographies. in: Bargués-Pedreny, P., Chandler, D. and Simon, E. (ed.) Mapping and Politics in the Digital Age Routledge.

Neogeography, development and human rights in Latin America.
Specht, D. 2018. Neogeography, development and human rights in Latin America. in: Raftopoulos, Malayna and Powęska, Radosław (ed.) Natural Resource Development and Human Rights in Latin America: State and Non-state Actors in the promotion and opposition to extractivism activities London University of London.

Cajamarca’s rejection of mining in Colombia was also a victory for social media and social mapping
Specht, D. 2017. Cajamarca’s rejection of mining in Colombia was also a victory for social media and social mapping. LSE.

Book Review: Surveillance after Snowden
Doug Specht 2017. Book Review: Surveillance after Snowden. Media, Culture & Society. 39 (1), pp. 138-140. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443716667068

Lore in the Time of Cholera
Specht, D. 2017. Lore in the Time of Cholera. Maplines. 31 (3), pp. 4-5.

Undressing with the Lights On: Surveillance and The Naked Society in a Digital Era
Specht, D. 2017. Undressing with the Lights On: Surveillance and The Naked Society in a Digital Era. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture. 12 (3), pp. 78-90. https://doi.org/10.16997/wpcc.268

Topping up the Trust Fund: restoring public confidence in science (part 3 of a 3 part article)
Specht, D. 2017. Topping up the Trust Fund: restoring public confidence in science (part 3 of a 3 part article). Times Higher Education. 9 - 15 February 2017.

Gold, power, protest: Digital and social media and protests against large-scale mining projects in Colombia
Specht, D. and Ros-Tonen, M.A.F. 2017. Gold, power, protest: Digital and social media and protests against large-scale mining projects in Colombia . New Media & Society. 19 (12), pp. 1907-1926. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816644567

Future trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten year vision (2nd Edition)
Specht, D. 2016. Future trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten year vision (2nd Edition). UN-GGIM.

Book Review: The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures and their Consequences
Specht, D. 2015. Book Review: The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures and their Consequences. Media, Culture & Society. 37 (7), pp. 1110-1111. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443715596318

The Future of GI in the 3rd Sector, part of AGI Foresight Report 2020
Specht, D. 2010. The Future of GI in the 3rd Sector, part of AGI Foresight Report 2020. The Association for Geographic Information.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9zqxv/teaching-vicarious-trauma-in-the-journalism-classroom-an-examination-of-educational-provision-in-uk-universities


Share this

Usage statistics

179 total views
440 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.