Distress among journalists working the incidents

Suddenly occurring large‐scale crises, such as mass shootings, are at the heart of the news (Brayne, 2007). Journalists immediately start covering the unfolding events, and are expected to rapidly create products for several media platforms. A journalist’s job description in a crisis differs from other crisis occupational groups on several levels. For example, journalists are the only group present at a crisis scene with a main work description that does not focus on handling the actual crisis, but rather to inform the public about what has happened (Englund, 2008; Newman, Shapiro, & Nelson, 2009). In addition, while first responders and other rescue personnel often deal with emergencies on a regular basis, most journalists are only sporadically exposed to crisis-related assignments (Smith, Newman, & Drevo, 2015). Journalistic work related to crises is not limited to only those journalists who are present at the crisis scene. The work description may also include combinations of tasks and settings, such as carrying out tasks from one’s home office or doing interviews elsewhere with individuals indirectly affected by the event (Weidmann & Papsdorf, 2010). To understand how journalists may be affected psychologically by large-scale incidents, such as a mass shooting, one must have insight into the occupation-specific conditions and expectations related to news reporting following crisis events.