Dr. Kortni (00:00)
Welcome to the Compassionate Newsroom, your gateway to transforming the heart and soul of journalism. I'm your host, Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon. I'm a former news director and television reporter turned happiness scholar. Now I train news leaders and journalists worldwide, teaching them how to cultivate workplace wellbeing and resilience with positive psychology. Each week, join me as I share evidence-based strategies.
and talk with some of the most inspiring people in the industry, including news leaders, journalists, trainers, and mental health experts. Together we'll share actionable approaches to help you. Imagine a newsroom that not only cares about the story, but profoundly values the people behind them. A place where compassion is the competitive advantage. Don't just listen, become part of this transformative journey. Subscribe to and share The Compassionate Newsroom. Let's champion a more supportive,
healthier and happier newsroom culture, one episode at a time.
Dr. Kortni (01:03)
Welcome back to the Compassionate Newsroom. I'm your host, Dr. Kortni And today we'll dive into the practice of debriefing. In a profession where news never sleeps, of course we all know that, right? The crisis.
are often part of the job, which means implementing a systematic debriefing process is essential. Now in today's episode, we're going to focus on how, as news leaders, you can integrate effective debriefing to support your team's mental health. So let's begin by understanding why debriefing is necessary. Journalists, of course, witness catastrophic events, making us vulnerable to trauma.
I often think about the traumatic events that I covered as a journalist. Researcher Natalie Seeley highlights that journalists often serve as first responders to violent news events leading to significant mental health impact, which is important for us to address these impacts. And that's why debriefing comes into play.
drawing on the insights from Australia wide first aid, which has been providing excellence in first aid training since 1975, I see some parallels in emergency responses and newsroom operations. They advocate for structured evaluations post incident to assess and improve responses. So here how this,
can align with our needs in news. in terms of the question segment, training and preparedness, these are some questions to think about. Did the journalists have necessary training to handle the traumatic situation they were reporting on? Just as first aiders need specific training, our reporters need training in trauma-informed journalism. Response time, how quickly?
were support mechanisms in place like counseling or peer support made possible to those involved. This mirrors the first aid's response with time on the scene. And then also resources were tools for mental health support, such as mental health professionals or decompression time readily available in good working order. What does your protocol look like?
following an intense news event, was there a review of mental health resources? Were they sufficient? Was it timely? And a systematic review. Was the response aligned with the newsroom's established mental health plan? Do you have a mental health plan? Have you created protocols?
in regards to supporting your team, what does that look like? And what improvements are required for future responses? See, incorporating these questions into regular debriefing sessions can significantly mitigate the psychological impact on our news teams. Now, debriefing helps team members process what they've experienced and provide a safe space to discuss
their emotional and psychological responses, which might include sadness, anxiety, and even shock. So here are some interactive guidelines to consider. Encourage open dialogue. Create a safe space where team members can express their feelings without judgment. Document the experience.
Encourage team members to write down their experiences and feelings as part of the debriefing process. Utilize peer support. Facilitate conversations among peers to share experiences and coping strategies. We have an episode with Emma Thompson who shares the value of peer support. And also balance restoration. Promote.
wellbeing activities to help restore balance, like mindfulness exercises or leveraging some of the information that you've learned in previous podcast episodes about how to incorporate positive psychology into your wellbeing strategy for your team, as well as your own. Now I'll leave the guide in the show notes. That's the Australia wide.
First Aid Guide. And as we wrap up today's episode, it's clear that debriefing is not just this procedural step, but really a fundamental part of fostering a resilient newsroom culture. It's all about building a supportive environment where journalists feel valued and cared for. Now, thank you so much for tuning into the Compassionate Newsroom. I want you to stay with us as we continue to explore ways
to support the mental health and wellbeing of yourself and your team. Remember, your mental health is a priority and it's essential in terms of not just surviving, but thriving in challenging times and especially when it comes down to the challenges in our workplace. See you next time.
Dr. Kortni (06:35)
for tuning into the Compassionate Newsroom podcast. Together we can transform workplace wellbeing in news. If you found value in today's episode, please share it with a colleague to help foster a supportive environment in the industry. And don't forget to subscribe and also visit our website for more resources at thecompassionatenewsroom.com.
