Improved reporting on violence against women is vital to creating change. It also raises important safety and wellbeing concerns for the journalists and editors involved.

Some journalists with high-profile roles reporting on violence against women experience backlash, including threats and online trolling, as well as physical violence. This video looks at increasing safety for journalists who report on violence against women.

Journalists who are routinely exposed to stories of violence and abuse may experience vicarious trauma. Vicarious trauma is the cumulative effect of working with trauma, which can affect many aspects of a person’s life. It may consist of short-term reactions, or longer-term effects that continue long after the work has finished. 

The below video includes advice for dealing with vicarious trauma. 

This tip sheet from the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma provides advice for managing stress and trauma on investigative projects.

GenVic has designed the guide called Don’t Read the Comments: Enhancing Online Safety for Women Working in the Media to assist media companies to protect their journalists, particularly women journalists, from online hate.

Finally, 1800RESPECT offers help to learn how to recognise, prevent and manage work-induced stress and trauma.