Episode 24

Exploring PTSD and the Psychological Profile of War Correspondents

Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, studies journalists in wartime and conflict situations. He has authored four award-winning books on journalists under conflict, including Moral Courage: 19 Profiles of Investigative Journalists and Shooting War,  has published a series of important studies exploring the psychological effects of conflict on journalists, covering the Balkans, Iraq, Mexico, Syria, Kenya, Iran, Afghanistan, the refugee crisis in Europe, and the aftermath of the 9/11 attack on New York City.

His books have served as the basis of the documentary Journalists under Fire. He currently consults for several news organizations, including the Globe and Mail, CNN, and the New York Times.

Anthony joins us on the podcast today to discuss his research program investigating journalists' emotional responses to conflict in various parts of the world, focusing on how they manage stress and trauma. He shares more about some of the case studies in his book and how he connected with journalists worldwide to learn more about their response to trauma. Anthony also shares more about an ongoing project of his which helps journalists in big news organizations access basic mental health training to support their colleagues.  

“Journalists who are going to the world's worst places in terms of danger are doing it voluntarily year after year, and their cumulative exposure to trauma is remarkable.”

- Dr. Anthony Feinstein  

This Week on Disarming Data

  • Why frontline journalists, including those from major news networks like BBC, CNN, and NBC, experience high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) similar to combat veterans

  • The challenges of providing therapy to journalists in distress due to their scattered location and lack of access to local healthcare providers

  • Why journalists who cover dangerous conflicts and crises have a unique biological makeup that allows them to sustain their careers over time

  • The fascinating story about identical twins, one of whom is a journalist and the other not, highlights the potential biological factors that influence a person's willingness to take risks in dangerous situations

  • Anthony’s education sessions on trauma and mental health to foreign correspondents for the New York Times and other news organizations who are going out to war zones

  • How Anthony’s research has contributed to a growing literature on the psychological challenges faced by journalists, leading to increased awareness and support

  • Stories of the moral courage of 19 journalists from around the world who have faced persecution and danger for their work, including one who had to leave Russia and another who lived with armed protection for a decade

  • More about the documentaries based on Anthony’s work, including ‘Journalists Under Fire’ 

  • Anthony’s work that supports journalists in Afghanistan to help one another using a buddy system and basic mental health training.