As an element of a daily News team you are often exposed to some events or incidents that you may find challenge your emotions and feelings.

Its not atypical for even practiced operators to become fatigued by images they are exposed to, it’s just that we become fairly proficient at the art of concealment.

Veterans of the game, often talk of having to ‘tough it out’. The implication of an operator breaking down seems to show a faint line of weakness, a flaw, and a crack in a veneer that is meant to be impenetrable, much like the correspondent portrayed on the evening news, standing in front of a camera, delivering in a manner of capability and authority, an assessment of a scene behind them.

News crews and reporters are not meant to become the news or be affected by the events they cover, but the reality is, emergency workers, hospital staff, lifesavers and many others who’s occupation puts them amongst those, who most in the community would never experience or understand, are often deeply affected, and unless they find comfort in a kindred spirit, often learn to deal with those emotions alone.

Its organizations like the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma and its Austalasian affiliate, that help and assist many reporters, camera crews, photographers and other members of the media during these difficult times.