In the past, the motto for journalists covering tough stories was “soldier on.” We are far past that now, understanding the toll it can take. Here are stories of photojournalists and correspondents; what they learned; and how things went forward for them. We disguise Identities. Some are combinations of several events.
The Event: Nancy was eager to take on tough assignments to show what she could do. She had her chance when a chaotic political demonstration drew competing protesters from all over the country.
The Problem: She was kicked in the head, terrorized with metal fences, and thrown to the ground while foul epithets were hurled at her.
The Result: Returning from the assignment, she was given a hero’s welcome for her great stories. What followed was a surprising bout of deep depression which she warded off by thrusting herself into more work.
The Insight: In coaching she realized that she was using her work as a way of avoiding deeper issues. The pain of an abusive childhood powered her to escape into other assignments. Instead of being with friends and family (especially on holidays), she lost herself in the tasks at hand.
Early life traumas were coloring her life. Both her life and her professional perspective improved when she developed strategies to let them go.
The event: Michael was an experienced photojournalist who thought he had heard everything. This time he heard firecrackers. It was really gunfire. People were dropping around him, so he acted. Camera to eye, he shot for 18 hours, moving without thought through the ensuing chaos.
The problem: In coming weeks he replayed the scene again and again. He had not been troubled. He was not emotionally involved as sixteen people died in front of him. It wasn’t war, it was an outdoor celebration gone wrong. He caught death, terror, pain, but felt none of it hims
The Result: Michael had always seen his camera as shield. In a sort of magical way, it kept him safe as he moved through the crowd under fire. But it also kept him removed from the emotional environment around him. Engrossed in the imagery he was exempt from the rest.
He suffered guilt for feeling nothing while witnessing a massacre. It affected his work, his home life and haunted his reflections.
The Insight: The camera that had always “provided distance,” could protect him only so far. He wasn’t callous and unfeeling, but in fact providing a great service to others.
His photos went on to win top awards. Some of the insight came from coaching. The rest came from colleagues who had experienced similar effects.