Workshop Opportunity from Rory Peck Trust: RPT Resilience Programme
We know that a combination of repeated exposure to traumatic events, financial insecurity, long hours and a lack of institutional protection all contribute to psychological distress for freelance journalists, which inevitably impacts their ability to continue their essential work. While staff journalists are often covered by employee support programmes that include psychotherapy, freelancers don’t have access to this type of support. The sector is losing too many talented journalists to stress, burnout, and in the case of those reporting from hostile environments, PTSD.
We believe that it is vital to provide specialised trauma-informed training and access to psychological treatment so freelance journalists can stay resilient in the face of adversity when exposed to trauma or covering traumatic events.
What support does the programme offer?
The Resilience Programme consists of two parts: a series of Trauma and Resilience Workshops for Freelancers and a Trauma Therapy Fund.
Trauma & Resilience Workshops
The Workshops, delivered by Dart Centre Europe, provide freelance journalists with training so they can cover traumatic events ethically and safely and be prepared for any possible psychological impact. Each workshop offers two webinars, both two hours in length, led by specialised journalist trainers.
The fully-funded workshops give journalists a safe space to learn more about trauma and how to build their resilience.
The workshops will be held in English, Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish.
The Workshops will cover the following:
- Introduction to Trauma – what is it? What does it do to us?
- How trauma and other stressors (might) impact storytelling
- Interviewing vulnerable contributors
- Building resilience and practical self-care techniques to lower stress
About the trainers
Dart Centre Europe is a non-profit based in London and the regional hub for the US-based Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, an international thought leader in trauma-informed media practice. Affiliated with the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York, Dart has for 20 years led the global debate on the training and support journalists need to cover traumatic events ethically and safely.
All workshops will be held online via Zoom, so participants may be based anywhere in the world.
How to apply
Registration is NOW OPEN for the next Trauma & Resilience Workshop, to be held on 9th & 11th November (in Russian).
Note: Limited spaces are available, and completing the form does not guarantee you a place. If selected, a £10 deposit will be required to secure your place (refunded after completing both workshops).
Please note that the data collected through this form will be stored securely and the information will be accessible only to the partners involved in this project.
If you have any questions about the Workshops, eligibility or the status of your application, please contact us by email at [email protected].
Who can apply?
The workshops are aimed at freelancers who work in hostile environments or regularly cover challenging and potentially traumatic events.
You’re eligible to take part if you:
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are a freelance journalist whose sole source of income is within the media sector;
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have been actively working as a freelancer for at least the last 12 months;
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do not have access to any other financial support or resources, i.e. government support or savings.
To access the course, you will need:
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Secure access to a laptop, computer or tablet and a good internet connection;
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Able to connect to live webinars (camera/headphones/speakers).
Priority will be given to those who have not completed similar training before; however, the course is open to those in need of a refresher.