Journalists under Fire: The Psychological Hazards of Covering War

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book owes much to the journalists who made time in busy, often hectic schedules to fill out questionnaires and meet with me. Of those I interviewed , all were prepared to be quoted, although some preferred anonymity . I have respected this need for confidentiality, which in rare instances meant that I had to alter some personal identifying characteristics. I have not, however, changed the content of what any journalist had to say. My first study was funded by the Freedom Forum in those halcyon pre– September 11 days when the world seemed safe and life less fraught. John Owen was then the European director of the Freedom Forum and ran what can be best described as a journalist’s salon in a beautiful set of offices overlooking the greenery of London’s Hyde Park. It was John who persuaded the Freedom Forum in Washington, D.C., to fund my study, and it was John who opened the doors to many of the news organizations. Without his enthusiasm and good offices, I doubt whether a lot of hard-boiled news bosses would have entertained a visit from a Canadian psychiatrist asking to explore the emotional lives of their employees. The London offices of the Freedom Forum are, sadly, no more. I, like many others, benefited from the rich cultural and academic milieu that John created. Funding for my second study, which focused on the war in Iraq, came from CNN and, in particular, Chris Cramer, managing director of CNN International. Over the years, Chris has established a remarkable reputation as a champion of good, safe journalism, and his unwavering commitment to this project and others is gratefully acknowledged. My thanks go to Stephen Jukes, formerly of Reuters; Dave Modrowski, of Associated Press Television News; Vin Ray, of the British Broadcasting Corporation; Tony Burman, of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; and Michael Jermey, of Independent Television News. They all helped by opening their staff rosters of war journalists to me, allowing me to enroll a large and representative sample to study. In addition, Tina Carr, of the xiv Acknowledgments Rory Peck Trust, was instrumental in helping recruit freelance journalists, and I thank her for this. I would like to acknowledge colleagues at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, including Frank Ochberg, Mark Brayne, Elana Newman, Roger Simpson, Bruce Shapiro, Jonathan Shay, and others, who generously invited me onto their Advisory Committee, where I can always find a stimulating debate about many issues relating to the emotional health of journalists. I approached every journalist wearing my research hat. But by the time the interview had ended, or my questionnaires had been completed, or my email correspondence had concluded, my role had not infrequently changed to that of clinician. Ethical considerations dictated that I could not walk away from a journalist in distress. The more prolonged contact that subsequently ensued between us allowed me to dispense therapy and advice , and when that was not possible for reasons of geography and time, I arranged for assistance to be given elsewhere by others. I hope my interventions were helpful. I know that, for me, what I learned in the process deepened my understanding of the profession. My thanks go to Wendy Harris and Brendan Coyne at the Johns Hopkins University Press. I was also most fortunate in having Susan Lantz as my editor. Her attention to detail and the fresh insights she provided have done much to enhance the text. This book was written on weekends, evenings, and holidays. It was written in the bedroom, the dining room, and hotel rooms on four continents . During this time, I have had the support of a wonderful family. To my wife, Karen, and children, Pippa, Saul, and Clarrie, I add love to my thanks. Journalists under Fire This page intentionally left blank ...