"Is that you traumatised now?" Deconstructing trauma, journalism, and psychological resilience on the journey from storyteller to soldier and back

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Stewart, Stephen (2026) "Is that you traumatised now?" Deconstructing trauma, journalism, and psychological resilience on the journey from storyteller to soldier and back. Journalism. ISSN 1464-8849 (https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849261422320)

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Abstract

This reflective autoethnography examines the intersection of personal trauma, journalism and military service. The author, drawing from more than two decades of journalism experience, explores the impact of prolonged exposure to conflict, violence and trauma on identity, psychological resilience and professional ethics. Through personal reflection and narrative analysis of past journalistic work, the study delves into the complexities of being both a journalist and a soldier, emphasising the profound effect of traumatic experiences on perception and ethical decision-making. Major findings include the lack of sufficient institutional support within both the military and journalistic sectors and the critical role of trauma awareness and ethics education. The study also highlights the disconnect between academic teachings and real-world practices in journalism. The research underscores the importance of reflexivity in trauma journalism and calls for better mental health support systems for journalists, revealing the necessity of addressing vicarious trauma (Jenkins and Baird, 2002).

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