PECULIARITIES OF JOURNALISTS’ RESILIENCE WHEN COVERING MILITARY EVENTS IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the problem of forming journalists’ resilience during coverage of military events in Ukraine, revealing the features of recovery and mental states against the background of providing military content. The study involved 30 journalists divided into two key groups. The first group (15 people) included reporters who work directly on creating facts. They conduct interviews with victims, military personnel and volunteers, collect information on the scene of events and develop detailed analytical materials. The second group (15 people) included journalists who work in the field and in editorial offices, without direct contact with events and individuals, but play an important role in the development of news and analysis of information. The following methods were used: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, a depression questionnaire, and questionnaires to determine the state of positive mental health. Therefore, after analyzing the studies and testing them with Student’s t-test and Pearson’s correlation analysis, it can be argued that the difference between reporters who work in contact with events and people, as well as analyze and process the information received, have higher mental performance and more developed resilience. Media workers have traits that contribute to salutogenic effects after trauma, in particular, they pay attention to their emotions, empathy, extraversion, optimism and self-efficacy. Previous studies also show that optimism, extraversion, low neuroticism and self-efficacy are related to salutogenic effects after trauma. These traits can help journalists maintain resilience and avoid strong and disturbing emotions of guilt, remorse and regret that may arise due to their professional activities. Careful information about the injury and proper behavior can ensure that they minimize harm from all sides and help them function within a salutogenic framework.