Post Traumatic Stress and Journalists

Stressed? Webinar for Post-traumatic stressed journalists

Date: Nov. 10, 2009

Time: 2-3 p.m. Eastern time

Can't attend the live Webinar? Your registration gives you access to the live event, the replay and any bonus resources.

Cost: $14.95
Thanks to grants from The Harnisch Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, we are able to offer a limited number of partial scholarships for this Webinar. Apply here

What will I learn? Images of human suffering, gore, death and destruction caused by violence or natural disaster can't simply be wiped from anyone's psyche. Journalists in the field and in the newsroom are no exception. Traumatic events affect journalists' well-being and their ability to do their job. Understanding the effects of trauma makes for healthier journalism and healthier journalists. In this Webinar, offered in partnership with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, you'll learn how to recognize and manage stress and trauma. We'll also show you how news organizations can develop an action to to help staffers who are experiencing trauma.

This Webinar is not just for those who cover traumatic events but also for those who edit the stories, images and video, design pages and produce the online report.

In this one-hour Webinar you will learn:
Strategies to keep your resilienceThat distress in the face of tragedy is a normal human response -- not a weakness
Tips to take care of yourself
Why peer support is important
When to get help
About the instructor: Heather Forbes is the national manager staff development for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) news division. She is responsible for cadet recruitment and training, editorial policy review, OH&S and equity and diversity issues for ABC News. Heather represents the ABC on the National Media and Mental Health Group, convened by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing.

About our training partner: The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a project of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, is dedicated to informed, innovative and ethical news reporting on violence, conflict and tragedy. Whether the topic is street crime, family violence, natural disaster, war or human rights, effective news reporting on traumatic events demands knowledge, skill and support. The Dart Center provides journalists around the world with the resources necessary to meet this challenge, drawing on a global, interdisciplinary network of news professionals, mental health experts, educators and researchers.

About Webinars: In this virtual classroom, participants can join in a seminar led by Poynter faculty and visiting faculty. This screencast includes live audio and a slideshow presentation in which participants can post questions and respond to poll questions posed by the host. We'll also have an archived replay available soon after the live Webinar. Your registration gives you access to the live event, the replay.

Technical requirements: To join this Webinar, you must have:
A reliable Internet connection, with at least 600kbps downloads
Flash plug-in, version 8.0 or higher
Get the latest Flash Player
A computer monitor with 1024 resolution or higher
A firewall that allows port 1935 or 443 (use our connection test if you're not sure)
Computer speakers or headphones
For PC attendees:Windows® XP (Home or Pro) or Vista
Firefox 1.5 or higher; Internet Explorer 6 or higher; Netscape Navigator 8.1 or higher
For Mac attendees:
Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
Safari 2.0 or higher; Firefox 1.5 or higher
Please test your connection: The technical requirements for this live event are a little different from other NewsU courses. So, we urge you to test your connection before enrolling. The test is quick and easy, and the results will tell you whether you’ll have any trouble viewing the event due to an outdated Flash Player, low bandwidth or firewall restrictions. Go to www.newsu.org/WebinarTest to test your connection

Questions? Read our Webinar FAQ or contact us at webinars@newsu.org.