Journalists Must Prioritize Safety And Mental Health While Covering US Election

By Committee To Protect Journalists Photos: YouTube Screenshots With 26 days until the U.S. election, the Committee to Protect Journalists wants to ensure newsrooms have tools to support journalists and staff as they cover demanding election assignments. In this third week of CPJ’s #ThinkSafety campaign, we are providing a list of key tools for supporting journalists’ mental health. Long hours, industry instability, online harassment, exposure to violence, and the very nature of covering distressing stories can all coalesce and lead to a combination of burnout and stress. Newsroom leaders are encouraged to adopt proactive psychological safety practices to maintain the well-being of their staff.Key considerations to support journalists’ mental health: Regularly check in with colleagues. Ask them what resources would be useful to support their work and provide accessible options for external support. Debrief after each assignment or at the end of each day if the story is ongoing. Helpful debriefs often include discussing what has gone well, what challenges arose, and what could be done differently. Define a mission and articulate it to your team. Be sure to convey that the harassment and threat colleagues may face online is in no way reflective of the quality of their work....