Survey: Journalists working with traumatic imagery

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An important part of a journalist's job is to verify and filter information and images before publication, but sometimes images or footage of crime, conflict or natural disasters can be violent or traumatic.

The issue of vicarious trauma among journalists is receiving wider attention as camera phones and social media magnify and multiply the footage media organisations receive around breaking news events.

Recent months have seen a spike in disturbing images coming from areas such as Iraq, Syria, Gaza and Ukraine, and repeated exposure to this type of imagery can have an effect on an individual's mental well being.

This survey is part of a series of features on the issue of graphic imagery that journalists come into contact with, the effect it may have and what steps can be taken to diminish these effects in the short or long-term.

We have already published a podcast with opinion and advice from experts on the issue of vicarious trauma among journalists, and will be looking into the issue further, with results from this study, in the coming weeks.

If you have to watch graphic images or footage from social media as part of your job, please take five minutes to complete the survey below, and share it with any colleagues to whom you feel it may be relevant.

The point of this survey is not to understand who has been affected, but to look at the full spectrum of responses and experiences from those who have worked in this area.

So even if you feel you have not been affected, your experience will still be valuable to the survey if you have time to share it. These pieces of advice from the Dart Center are an important read for anyone working with traumatic images , and is a highly recommended read for any journalist.

Remember to scroll to the bottom to submit your answers.

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