Journalists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) often report on traumatic events while experiencing trauma themselves, facing conflicts, corruption, and gender-based violence daily. Despite this exposure, mental health support in newsrooms is rare, and the psychological toll is frequently dismissed as part of the job, fostering a culture of silence. In December 2025, the ARIJ 18th Annual Forum in Amman, Jordan, began to challenge this silence by highlighting the need for trauma-sensitive practices in journalism.
To address this, Free Press Unlimited launched the Trauma-Sensitive Reporting Masterclass, bringing together journalists, editors, and mental health professionals. Co-created by media expert Rouba El Helou and psychologists Aya Mhanna and Dr. Khaled Nasser, the programme provides practical tools for ethical reporting while safeguarding both journalists and their sources. Recognizing a lack of Arabic-language resources, the initiative produced the first region-specific guide, Trauma‑Sensitive Reporting: The Basics of Understanding Trauma‑Informed Journalism, available in English and Arabic.
The Masterclass and guide translate trauma awareness into actionable support, creating a safe space for reporters to discuss work-related mental health openly. Surveys revealed that MENA journalists often lack institutional support, with senior staff requesting resilience strategies and newsroom policies to protect themselves and their teams. By forming a Community of Practice, the programme allows journalists to share experiences, ethical standards, and ongoing guidance beyond the training. Participants reflected that ethical reporting must balance urgency with dignity, recognizing the long-term impact coverage can have on survivors.
The curriculum focuses on three key areas: conducting informed interviews without harming survivors, managing personal trauma exposure, and establishing newsroom practices that prioritize dignity and consent. The training emphasizes that ethical journalism does not pit truth against humanity but ensures both are respected. Journalists reported that pressure to be first often comes at the expense of human dignity, and hasty reporting can cause lasting harm to sources and communities.
Voices from the Masterclass highlighted the delicate ethical considerations in trauma reporting. Participants stressed that truth-telling should not amplify pain, that journalists must constantly balance urgency with responsibility, and that reporting human rights violations can deeply affect the reporter. The initiative ultimately encourages a sustainable approach to journalism in MENA, where accuracy, empathy, and ethical awareness are inseparable.
