Stress Reactions and Working Conditions among Journalists Covering the Earthquake in Haiti2010.

It is known that a strong professional identity can be helpful when journalists report from challenging worksituations such as disasters. This is also confirmed in a recent survey among Swedish and Norwegian journalistsfrom press, radio and television that covered the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Working professionally with adifferent mission rather than helping, puts the role conflict to the edge between working as journalist and that ofalso being a human eyewitness. When studying journalists in their role covering disasters, not only do we learnabout them, but also about their interactions and possible interventions with the victims, while interviewing andphotographing. This study combined theoretical perspectives from the field of media and journalism research withthat of psychotraumatology. About 35 reporters and photographers from the two Scandinavian countriesparticipated in the study. Preliminary results show that a significant number experienced increased positiveactivation, while only a few displayed more severe stress responses. The presentation will summarize main findings of the study, e.g. strong sensory input, stress reactions, coping strategies, work situation, needs of psychologicalsupport in the short and long term, as well as what motivates journalists to take part in such assignments.