Abstract
M.A.
On-going traumatic events have become a tragic reality within South African society, with
ubiquitous psychological consequences for those involved. The major political upheaval -
specifically in the past five years - and the process of transition to a new South Africa has had
an impact on all South Africans. Journalists have played a fundamental role in the process of
transition, and many have been exposed to scenes of extreme unrest and accompanying
violence. It is apparent that the need exists to study the effects of on-going stress in this
group of individuals.
This study regarding the effects of unabated exposure to violence and trauma in journalists
(specifically crime reporters) had the following objectives:
(I) A comprehensive literature survey which focuses on the theory and history of
combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Theory that has developed in response
to disaster psychology was included.
(ii) An investigation of the effects of exposure to unremitting violence and trauma in a
journalistic context.
The initial part of the study focuses on a thorough theoretical investigation which provides a
systemic framework for the conceptualization of PTSD. The literature reveals that not all
individuals develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after a traumatic event; PTSD in
individuals who have been exposed to on-going violence and trauma cannot be
conceptualized on a linear level, whereby following exposure to a specific stressor/trauma,
the inevitable outcome would be PTSD. It is clear that although the stressor is necessary, it is
not sufficient to cause the disorder. On the contrary, there are other factors which play a fundamental role in whether or not the
victim perceives the event as overwhelmingly stressful. These factors are termed - mediating
factors" and include pre-existing biological factors, pre-existing psycho-social factors and
events that occurred post-trauma (such as the availability of an adequate support system).
The fact that insufficient psychological assistance subsequent to exposure to the trauma was
available to the group of journalists that took part in the study, was apparent. The reasons for
this may have been that due to the "macho-ethic" that pervades their functioning the
individuals in question, deny themselves access to a structured and regular way of defusing
their experiences.
A criticism that could be levelled against this study is that the researcher elected to conduct a
single interview with each journalist. The issues that arose as a result of the interviews were
real, but were not able to be dealt with and followed up on.
A further criticism is that there has been a relatively extended time factor between the
heightened trauma and violence to which the journalists were subjected and the interview that
provided the material for this study.
Trauma has conventionally been defined as a linear occurrence, as an external event which
impacts on people's lives in a random, haphazard manner. However, it is strongly felt that it
should be seen within a bigger ecosystemic context as an event which has become so much a
part of our society as we currently know it.
Recommendations were made as a result of the study, and these are:
that a follow-up study be conducted which would have as it's aim an in-depth
investigation of individual long-term cases in journalists who are victims of violence; that journalists be afforded mandatory psychological intervention following their
exposure to violence and trauma as it is clear that psychotherapy is strongly indicated
for individuals with PTSD;
that group programmes be devised with the objective of educating this group of
individuals with regard to PTSD and other severe stress responses.