Journalists as Witnesses to Executions

Processing the Viewing Room

Kenna R. Griffin

The Viewing Room: How Journalists Prepare for and Respond to Witnessing Executions discusses the need for individual and organizational journalism training on coping with trauma exposure and providing support after being exposed to trauma, specifically as it pertains to the aftermath of witnessing and covering executions. The United States executed 46 people in 2010. At least one journalist witnessed each of the deaths. Thirty-three of those journalists were interviewed for this book. They witnessed an electrocution, firing squad death or a lethal injection, with some having witnessed more than one execution that year by the time they were interviewed. Kenna R. Griffin argues that support before and after trauma exposure would help journalists cope with emotions related to experiencing traumatic events, and could even help them avoid emotional trauma altogether. It is newsroom managers’ responsibility to create supportive work environments with climates focused on education, training, communication, safety, and emotional well-being—most of which don’t appear to be present when journalists witness executions, and all of which are necessary to create a more mentally healthy profession. Scholars of journalism, trauma, and legal studies will find this book particularly useful.

Lexington Books

Pages: 94 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4985-9627-5 • Hardback • December 2019 • $84.00 • (£65.00)

978-1-4985-9628-2 • eBook • December 2019 • $79.50 • (£61.00)

Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Journalism

Journalists as Witnesses to Executions

Processing the Viewing Room

Hardback

eBook

Summary

The Viewing Room: How Journalists Prepare for and Respond to Witnessing Executions discusses the need for individual and organizational journalism training on coping with trauma exposure and providing support after being exposed to trauma, specifically as it pertains to the aftermath of witnessing and covering executions. The United States executed 46 people in 2010. At least one journalist witnessed each of the deaths. Thirty-three of those journalists were interviewed for this book. They witnessed an electrocution, firing squad death or a lethal injection, with some having witnessed more than one execution that year by the time they were interviewed. Kenna R. Griffin argues that support before and after trauma exposure would help journalists cope with emotions related to experiencing traumatic events, and could even help them avoid emotional trauma altogether. It is newsroom managers’ responsibility to create supportive work environments with climates focused on education, training, communication, safety, and emotional well-being—most of which don’t appear to be present when journalists witness executions, and all of which are necessary to create a more mentally healthy profession. Scholars of journalism, trauma, and legal studies will find this book particularly useful.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 94 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4985-9627-5 • Hardback • December 2019 • $84.00 • (£65.00)

978-1-4985-9628-2 • eBook • December 2019 • $79.50 • (£61.00)

Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Journalism

Author

Kenna R. Griffin holds a PhD in mass communications from the University of Oklahoma.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Journalists as Execution Witnesses

Chapter 3: Understanding Journalism and Trauma

Chapter 4: The Conflict Between Trauma and Journalism Professionalism

Chapter 5: The Role of Organizational Support in Trauma Mediation

Chapter 6: Conclusion

Reviews

I have been involved in trauma-related issues for nearly 25 years and have not thought of what Kenna R. Griffin is writing about in Journalists as Witnesses to Executions: Processing the Viewing Room. Griffin's interviews and depth of research are fascinating and break ground on an area that many journalists have faced in their careers. This book should be considered for any media ethics or trauma-related curriculum. It's a book that we should be discussing more as more journalists face the coverage of trauma in their careers.
— Joe Hight, University of Central Oklahoma

Journalists as Witnesses to Executions

Processing the Viewing Room

Kenna R. Griffin

Journalists as Witnesses to Executions

Processing the Viewing Room

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