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Cited by 42COVID-19 and Mental HealthCommunication and COVID-19 ImpactPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

How have journalists been affected psychologically by their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic? A descriptive study of two international news organisations

Open access
Osmann, Jonas, Selva, Meera, Feinstein, Anthony·2021·BMJ Open
DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045675PMC PMC8277489
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Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented healthcare challenges. Journalists covering the pandemic at close quarters are working in ways akin to first responders, but nothing to date is known of the psychological distress this is potentially causing them. This study aims to determine whether journalists reporting on the COVID-19 crisis have been affected emotionally, and if so to assess the severity of their distress. It also investigates potential demographic and work-related predictors and whether news organisations had provided counselling to their journalists. Participants: A total of 111 journalists working for two international news organisations were approached of which 73 (66%) participated in the study. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Symptoms of anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7)), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)), overall psychological distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12)), and treatment. Results: The percentages of journalists exceeding threshold scores for clinically significant anxiety, depression, PTSD and psychological distress were: GAD-7, 26%; PHQ-9, 20.5%; PCL-5, 9.6%; GHQ-12, 82.2%. Journalists assigned to cover the pandemic (n=54 (74%)) were significantly more anxious (p<0.05). Journalists who received counselling (n=38 (52%)) following the onset of the pandemic reported significantly fewer symptoms of anxiety (p<0.01), depression (p<0.01) and overall psychological distress (p<0.01). Conclusions: Journalists covering the COVID-19 pandemic are experiencing levels of anxiety and depression similar to those seen in first responders. Psychological therapy provided in a timely manner can significantly alleviate emotional distress.

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  • All the psychometric measures chosen have been widely used, including in previous journalism research.

    “All the psychometric measures chosen have been widely used, including in previous journalism research (Osmann, Selva, et al., 2021).”

    From An examination of psychological distress and moral injury in journalists exposed to online harassment (2025) · cites this paper as Osmann, Selva, et al., 2021

    The Methods > Psychiatric data passage (page not supplied) shows that Osmann et al. used four psychometric scales in a study of journalists, supporting their use in previous journalism research. It does not establish that all the measures chosen by the citing authors have been widely used. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The finding that psychological support was associated with lower depression, PTSD, and moral injury scores replicates data collected from news organizations during the pandemic.

    “This finding replicates data collected from news organizations during the pandemic (Osmann, Selva, et al., 2021)”

    From An examination of psychological distress and moral injury in journalists exposed to online harassment (2025) · cites this paper as Osmann, Selva, et al., 2021

    The Discussion (page not available) describes therapy as a protective factor for depression and PTSD symptoms among journalists at two news organisations during the pandemic. The Methods list no moral-injury measure, so the paper does not support the claim that psychological support was associated with lower moral-injury scores. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Osmann, J., Selva, M., & Feinstein, A.
Affiliations
  • Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (CA)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Osmann, Jonas
ORCID
Venue
BMJ Open
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2021-07
Volume
11
Issue
7
Pages
e045675
ISSN
2044-6055 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045675
PMC
PMC8277489
OpenAlex
W3178495135
Cited by
42
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 2
FWCI
4.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMJ Open (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, journalists, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, occupational stress, news organizations, counseling, first responders
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Humans, Stress, Psychological, Pandemics

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