Reporting on domestic violence often involves hearing, deeply engaging with, and retelling traumatic personal stories. This can take an emotional toll, leading to secondary (or vicarious) trauma.

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“It’s very easy to take on someone else’s pain,” says editor Kaitlyn Schallhorn. “It’s easy to ingrain yourself so much into that story and make sure you’ve got all the details and all the facts because you want to make sure it is told accurately and correctly. You put yourself so much into it, and then you must leave and move on.”

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That’s not the only challenge. Journalists also find that being sensitive with traumatized sources means working delicately and slowly, which can be tough to balance with duties to be thorough and meet deadlines. Your own experiences with domestic violence can make it hard to approach an assignment with some degree of objectivity. You may worry about protecting your sources as you determine how much of a survivor’s story to reveal without causing further harm.  

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“You might center the survivor’s emotional well-being, which of course is important, but we also must think about the journalist who may live vicariously through what they're hearing,” says Angela Kim, who has written on survivorship and disability for California Health Report. “I've been involved in domestic violence work for a while now, and we always talk about how you get burnt out so quickly. You are surrounded by violence and really heavy things every day.”

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Recognizing all of this, many news organizations offer journalists time and support to manage their well-being. Many others do not, making it important to practice self-care. Don’t underestimate the importance of eating, sleeping, and exercising regularly. Talk with your peers; talk with your editor.

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“I generally tell my reporters, ‘Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself if you need a break,’” Schallhorn says. “It's OK to pause.”