The moral of the story: Journalists’ perceptions of moral injury risk

Abstract

Journalists are frequently exposed to morally challenging events and circumstances that can give rise to self-discrepancy, the sense that one has acted in a way that is inconsistent with one’s beliefs and values. This self-discrepancy may contribute to moral injury, a potentially debilitating psychological condition characterized by guilt, shame, anger, demoralization, self-condemnation, social alienation, and difficulties with trust and forgiveness. While research has begun to explore occupational, organizational, and personal factors associated with risk of moral injury in other high-risk occupations, very little of this research has focused on journalism, where occupational norms may differ. This qualitative study investigated journalists’ (N = 20) perceptions of how moral injury is understood in their field and what factors might influence moral injury risk. Thematic analysis identified five themes addressing: (1) the kinds of events and circumstances that can give rise to moral injury; (2) the tensions created by misaligned values; (3) the extent to which media organisations support the public interest mission of journalism; (4) The level of preparation or support a journalist receives around the moral challenges of the work; and (5) The relationship a journalist has with their role. Findings extended our understanding of moral injury in several important ways, highlighting that journalists are ill-prepared for moral injury exposure but have insight into ways organizational policy, practice, and training might better prepare and support them.