Amsterdam Journalism and Trauma Workshop

Journalists from the Netherlands and Belgium gathered at the Amsterdam Medical Centre (AMC) on October 19, 2005, for a one-day workshop on journalism and trauma organized by the Dart Centre, held in conjunction with the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) conference.

The twelve participating journalists, editors, producers and managers discussed issues relating specifically to the Dutch and Belgian contexts, ranging from the responsibility towards freelancers; the need for briefing material in Dutch, to the possibility of collaborating with institutions such as the AMC on awareness campaigns.

Professor Berthold Gersons, from the University of Amsterdam Psychiatry Department based in the AMC, and current President of the ESTSS, introduced the topic of trauma and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and discussed with the group the implications of each. Many of the journalists found Prof Gersons’ lecture particularly useful and inspiring, especially when discussing coping strategies. Jonathan Marks, former head of Radio Netherlands, remarked that he was not aware that “the AMC was so busy in the field of trauma,” which highlighted the need for collaboration between mental health professionals and journalists.

Professor Gersons was later joined by colleagues Mrs Westerveld and Mrs Hutter from the Centre of the Psychological Trauma, who explained how aspects of the treatment of the Amsterdam Police can also be relevant to Dutch journalists.

Denise van Den Broeck, who had previously taken part in a similar Dart Centre workshop in Stockholm in June 2005 (read a summary of that workshop here), was the prime organizer of the workshop on behalf of the Dart Centre. Van Den Broeck, herself an investigative journalist, has a strong commitment to issues facing freelance/investigative journalists, especially women, who put their lives at risk and yet do not receive adequate support. Van Den Broeck introduced the Dart Centre’s history, activities and aims, and noted the differences between the status of journalists in the Netherlands and Belgium. Facilitated discussions led by van Den Broeck gave group members the opportunity to share personal experiences and stories, highlighting areas for improvement in the Dutch and Belgian contexts and brainstorming action points.

It was noted that new stations are increasingly making use of freelances. More experienced editors, (the example of Fieneke Diamand at NOS Radio 1 was given), are aware of the risks reporters face with trauma and are able to manage accordingly. However, with less experienced editors, freelancers face great risks without any form of support. It was also noted that there are not many war reporters in the Netherlands – and those that are, seem to have clubbed together in Amsterdam to share experiences amongst themselves.

As an action point, it was suggested that a Dutch-language brochure, similar to Dart’s own “Tragedies and Journalists” brochure needs to be put together using local examples, such as Enschede instead of Oklahoma, and used as briefing material for both staff and especially freelancers. The question of whether freelancers are taking too many risks by going to areas where regular staff cannot go because of insurance issues was discussed, as well as the fact that the public broadcasting system was reducing the wages of freelancers as way of cutting costs.

Karen Hoojberg, producer at VPRO, added that even regular staff feel like freelancers. “We here in the Netherlands have so many external problems,” she said. “The politicians with their money wars are killing our public networking organizations. So journalists never know if they still have their job when they come back. There is no union (only the Dutch Journalists Association), and no form of a safety net. So we are totally self-supporting in every aspect, literally free-lance.”

It was agreed that such a brochure is more effective if done on a national level, and with the help of Kees Schaepman, chair of the Dutch Journalists Association, in the Netherlands, and van Den Broeck in Belgium.

As a second point of action, it was agreed that there needs to be an awareness campaign for company doctors at broadcasting stations. So far, doctors at those stations have been unaware of services such as the AMC, and others around the Netherlands and Belgium, which can provide a lot of information and practical suggestions and treatments.

In the long-term, however, machoism in the journalistic culture will require sustained effort to change. “A Hollander, especially males,” Hoojberg noted, “don’t communicate easily. The hardcore war reporters talk non-verbally amongst themselves. They have coping mechanisms, but when they stop working after 20 or 30 years, they crash emotionally – they can’t afford to be confused or traumatized on the job.”

“The fact that there is a meeting point, the Dart Centre, and that people are writing about their experiences and talking amongst themselves is important.” Hoojberg added. “And what’s also important is the Dart Centre’s training program which prevents all kinds of distortions – it is practical, useful and shows us how we can cope individually and talk about it together.”