Reporters are the eyes and ears of their audience and what they see and hear can be distressing. They are called on to witness events that other people - 'ordinary people' - rarely experience first-hand.
Mark Brayne spent 30 years in journalism, some of it as a BBC foreign news correspondent, and is a registered psychotherapist and founder of the European Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma:
"Being a journalist doesn't mean to say you're wearing some kind of superman suit of armour and that you can go in and be completely unaffected by what you're going to be covering."
He advises, above all, that journalists are realistic and honest with themselves about what they're doing, and recognise:
- The dangers
- The challenges
- Their own limitations.
So talk to the appropriate people about your fears: your own safety; your family's; your personal confidence. Talking helps. Don't hide your emotions.
Also, find out about the story you'll be covering. Thorough preparation means no last-minute panics and gives you one less thing to worry about.
Finally, remember that, although you're a journalist, you're also human. In fact, being human is at the heart of journalism. You won't remain unaffected by what you're covering, and that's OK.
You can learn more about managing trauma from the BBC College of Journalism website. The site is free to licence fee payers within the United Kingdom but you will be charged to access most of the content if you are outside the UK.
