Browsing by Author "Christians, Nadine"

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    Preparing journalism graduates for career trauma exposure: an exploration of perspectives of South African university journalism educators
    (2023-03) Christians, Nadine; Jordaan, Marenet; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To focus on the effect of exposure to trauma on the mental wellbeing of journalists has become a topical issue amongst journalism studies scholars. As secondary respondents to violence, war, murder, gender-based violence and protests, and because of interviewing victims and survivors of trauma, journalists are not immune to the effect that covering explicit incidences of trauma can have on their mental health. This study examined trauma exposure and the effect it has on journalists in general and journalism students specifically. It explored the journalism curricula of tertiary education institutions and provided the perspectives of journalism educators within a South African context. The study highlights the importance of journalism students being prepared by journalism educators for on-the-job trauma exposure and the effect it could have on their health. Research for the study started with a thorough literature review to determine the extent to which previous research has been conducted on trauma and journalism and journalism trauma education. This researcher utilised an ethics of care as the theoretical point of departure, and used care, the four elements of care, and relationship between the educator and student as a foundation for the research study. By conducting semi-structured interviews with ten journalism educators from a variety of South African universities, this research study identified themes related to the research problem, including trauma experienced by journalism students; the need to prepare journalism students for trauma exposure; trauma education and awareness in the journalism curriculum; the educator’s duty of care; and the implications of trauma education on the journalism student, higher learning institution and the journalism profession. The research findings indicate that trauma education and training is not formalised within the majority of the South African universities that participated in the study. However, while it may not be formalised, trauma awareness is discussed and informally addressed in the journalism classroom. This researcher would suggest including formal trauma exposure guidelines or formal trauma awareness training within the journalism curriculum to better prepare journalism graduates for on-the-job trauma exposure.