Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores research that indicates traumatic experiences that happen early on in a young journalist’s career can have detrimental and substantial effects across many years. It discusses the “macho approach” in newsrooms, whereby openly talking about heady emotions is discouraged, and offers sage advice on how to engage in self-preparation and self-care so that journalists can become more empathetic and resilient. The book explains the cycles of trauma and recovery, as well as an interview method that has been shown to facilitate interviews with trauma victims. It suggests that urban violence has become a central preoccupation of policy-makers, planners, and development practitioners, while journalists have an obsession with “gang warfare”. The book focuses on the protection against the dissemination of fake, inadequate, or misleading health news.