Tragedy and Objectivity
By Rebecca Coates Nee
September 17th, 2001

Grief counselors are everywhere. They’re among the wreckage in Manhattan and in the corridors of federal buildings, schools and hospitals. They’ll counsel the firefighters, the police officers, the doctors, the witnesses and the survivors.

They’ll tell reporters about the post-traumatic stress awaiting those affected by this nation’s tragedy.

And the reporters, photographers and producers will diligently document and pass along every detail to the American public, re-racking the video and the soundbites over and over again. But who will be there for them?

Journalists seem to be the only segment of the population who regularly witness man’s inhumanity against man but are never granted the same compassion and support afforded to others working crime scenes.

Perhaps that’s because journalists are supposed to be objective – even in the face of tragedy. Perhaps it’s because journalists are merely observers, not participants in rescue efforts. Or, perhaps it’s because those who employ journalists do not fully recognize reporters as people too.

Even "routine" crime scenes take a toll on journalists over time. When Ezra Marcus left his night-side reporting job at an Orlando TV station to become an agent with N.S. Beinstock, he realized he had repressed the shock of all he had seen.

"That was the most difficult part of making the transition," Marcus said, "coming to terms emotionally with eight years of grief and suffering and trauma that I witnessed as a reporter."

Usually, reporters and photographers don’t take enough time to acknowledge how these events are impacting them. Adrenaline gets them through the rush of the big story, but resources are scarce for coping with the inevitable letdown and flashbacks that follow. Possible long-term effects include depression, anxiety and difficulty forming close relationships.

The University of Washington’s Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, www.dartcenter.org, is trying to help journalists cope with the horrors they witness and deal more compassionately with the victims they interview. They have posted numerous articles on the subject and opened a message board for reporters struggling with grief.

Those of you covering the aftermath of Sept. 11th have an enormous responsibility to the American public. But don’t forget your responsibility to yourself.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are indeed human first and a reporter second. When you finally do get a day off, find a trusted friend and talk to them honestly about what you saw and felt. In the meantime, worry less about your performance and care more about the people you are covering. Their lives are now changed forever. And so is yours.