Journalists working in hostile environments are directly exposed to trauma. Whether reporting on war and instability or investigating authoritarian regimes, it is their job to uncover war crimes and human rights abuses, such as torture and rape, and bear witness to people's suffering. In the course of their reporting, journalists can themselves become a target and put their own lives at risk. Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal's Moscow correspondent, has spent over a year in a Russian jail after falsely being accused of spying.

The Israel-Gaza war has been particularly deadly for journalists. As of May 1, 2024, at least 97 media workers have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Several Palestinian journalists have lost family members. The heightened emotions sparked by the conflict have spilled over to US campuses.

"I was close to being arrested while covering an Israel-Gaza war protest at Stony Brook University. I was there interviewing students and witnessing a pro-Palestinian sit-in. Even after identifying myself as a student reporter, I felt intimidated."

Daniela Escobar, class of '24, Stony Brook University

Viola Flowers, the editor of the Statesman, Stony Brook's student newspaper, said it was difficult for their reporting team to strike the right tone. "Prestigious outlets like the New York Times were flubbing their coverage. How were we, as the youngest, least-experienced journalists, going to be able to cover such a complex, contentious topic?"

Flowers encouraged her reporters to be accurate and balanced, even if they could not please all sides. She also sought professional advice from the Statesman's board of directors. "We are learning how to report on sensitive topics still, and hope our community can keep this in mind when we are trying our best to provide the most accurate, timely and sensitive coverage," Flowers said.

For foreign correspondents, making the right judgment call can be a matter of life and death. Richard Engel, chief foreign correspondent of NBC News, was a friend of Marie Colvin, who was killed in Syria in 2012. In this video, recorded for us in Ukraine, he explains how journalists who push themselves to the limit can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Richard Engel, chief foreign correspondent, NBC News, in Ukraine

"Let's say I'm going to a frontline area. Do I go just far enough to get what I need? The further I go the more danger there is. How far do I keep going? How deep you go is up to you . . . Once you've seen behind the curtain, when you've seen what society looks like once it has collapsed and the rules and laws have faded away, it is very hard to see anything else in the same light."

Richard Engel, chief foreign correspondent, NBC News

Reporters Without Borders offers a resource guide on reporting in conflict zones. They advise journalists to ​​conduct thorough research before departure in order to provide context and background. They also provide tips for covering protests, such as not going alone, paying attention to your surroundings and using mesh messaging apps to avoid lost communication or a weak phone signal. In case of arrest, remember you have the right to remain silent. The CPJ also offers a comprehensive safety and security guide on issues of risk assessment, physical safety and digital security.

It is vital for journalists to minimize risks. Eduardo Villa Lugo, an editor and reporter at Zeta Tijuana in Mexico, is responsible for investigating drug trafficking and corruption. "When we go to a high-risk area of the country, we actively indicate at what time we are going to go there and approximately when we will be back." He added that Zeta will always know where their reporters are meant to be in case they lose contact.

Speaking at our symposium on "Coping with Crisis" in New York on March 25, Louise Callaghan, the former Middle East correspondent of the Sunday Times of London, recalled how she was trying urgently to establish the location of a mass burial site in Ukraine, while shelling was underway. Fearing for her safety, she inadvertently began to pressurize her source, as she explains in this video.

Louise Callaghan, panelist at the Marie Colvin lecture on "Coping with Crisis" on March 25, 2024

"After that I went out of my way to say to team at the beginning of every assignment, 'All right, if anyone is not feeling OK, please tell me,' and have chats afterward. How's everyone doing now? What could we have done differently?"

Louise Callaghan, former Middle East correspondent of the Sunday Times of London (now US correspondent)

She also highlighted the importance of self-care. "I try to be strict during assignments about eating properly, trying to sleep, and also exercising. So if you ever go on assignment with me, I may force you into doing HIIT workouts on the roof of a Syrian hotel," Callaghan said.