“If It Bleeds It Leads”: The Visual Witnessing Trauma Phenomenon Among Journalists in East Africa
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In: Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, 2024.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - “If It Bleeds It Leads”
T2 - The Visual Witnessing Trauma Phenomenon Among Journalists in East Africa
AU - Radoli, Lydia Ouma
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © AEJMC 2024.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The paradox of documenting history through gruesome visuals depicting the prominence of stories intrigues media researchers. Foundational work on the dual representation theory explains trauma transference to brain functions following disturbing emotional triggers. The analysis suggests an existing link between exposure to disturbing information and trauma. In East Africa, trauma and related psychological effects thrive amid rigid newsroom structures devoid of intervention mechanisms. The scarcity of trauma mitigations is not just an issue in journalism, but in society, as mental health concerns and other deprivations become common. Data from in-depth interviews with journalists reporting trauma in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda indicate a positive correlation between a heightened frequency of exposure to violent visuals and an increased manifestation of trauma. Data also show a dearth in psychosocial support, indicating a need for alternative mitigation strategies.
AB - The paradox of documenting history through gruesome visuals depicting the prominence of stories intrigues media researchers. Foundational work on the dual representation theory explains trauma transference to brain functions following disturbing emotional triggers. The analysis suggests an existing link between exposure to disturbing information and trauma. In East Africa, trauma and related psychological effects thrive amid rigid newsroom structures devoid of intervention mechanisms. The scarcity of trauma mitigations is not just an issue in journalism, but in society, as mental health concerns and other deprivations become common. Data from in-depth interviews with journalists reporting trauma in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda indicate a positive correlation between a heightened frequency of exposure to violent visuals and an increased manifestation of trauma. Data also show a dearth in psychosocial support, indicating a need for alternative mitigation strategies.
KW - East African journalists
KW - journalism
KW - trauma
KW - visuals
KW - witnessing
KW - Cultural studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85193344261&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/b1136dc5-1691-389c-8fa0-c95e88333262/
U2 - 10.1177/10776958241242941
DO - 10.1177/10776958241242941
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85193344261
JO - Journalism and Mass Communication Educator
JF - Journalism and Mass Communication Educator
SN - 1077-6958
ER -