UNESCO is the lead UN Agency for promoting freedom of expression and safety of journalists as part of its mandate to “promote the free flow of ideas by word and image”.
Hans M. Koot
Prof. dr., professor emeritus at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Pakistan journalists topics of reports threats mental health
Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists (Reporters Sans Frontières). Despite this dubious status very little is known about symptoms of common mental disorders (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety) among Pakistani journalists. Our study aimed to explore whether reporting on potentially traumatic topics and work-related threat exposure were associated with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of 505 Pakistani journalists. The reporting topics of interest were militancy, crime (excluding militancy), bomb or suicide blasts, and natural disasters. Threats were categorized as electronic threats, face-to-face threats, physical aggression, stalking, kidnapping, and detention by authorities. We examined to what extent symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress are related to reporting in these topics and exposure to threats.
Definition of journalists' safety
Performance of the profession of journalist with the freedom to report on any topic without exposure to the danger of any limiting events as a consequence of this reporting (like being murdered, killed, face attempted murder, abductions, arrest, illegal detentions by official authorities, physical assaults, verbal threats) and availability of appropriate protection from, prevention and care of any mental issues that may arise from this professional activity.Future plans for research on journalists' safety
None at this moment- Research focuses:
- Psychological
- Methods used in research:
- Interviews, Surveys, Quantitative content analysis
- Countries of research focus:
- Pakistan