By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

As insecurity continues to ravage various parts of Nigeria—drawing concern from both the U.S. President and the U.S. Congress—many journalists on the frontlines say they are quietly battling intense social, psychological, and emotional strain.

Trauma among journalists is not unique to Nigeria; globally, reporters covering wars, insurgencies, and disasters often encounter harrowing scenes that leave lasting emotional scars. But in Africa, this reality has long been understudied and underreported.

A new international research effort has now shed fresh light on the issue, revealing that many Nigerian journalists covering violent conflicts suffer severe emotional distress yet receive little to no institutional or professional support.

The findings are detailed in a study titled Silent Echoes and Deafening Silence: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Trauma Journalism in Nigeria’s Ethno-Religious Crises, published in the inaugural volume of Navigating Trauma in African Journalism, a new scholarly publication released by Springer Nature.

Edited by Kealeboga Aiseng and Chikezie E. Uzuegbunam, the book is part of a two-volume project examining how journalists across Africa experience and survive trauma in some of the continent’s most volatile news environments.

The study was authored by Emeritus Professor Charles Okigbo, a U.S.-based communication scholar; Blessing Ekene Okafor, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Illinois State University; Dr. Habib Yakoob, Acting Director of Information and University Relations at the University of Abuja; and Richard Adeyinka Emmanuel, a doctoral researcher at the University of Ibadan.

According to the authors, the work serves as a pilot for broader, cross-country research into trauma journalism in Africa.

Using a mixed-methods approach—including surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions—the study offers both statistical evidence and firsthand emotional insights into how journalists cope with repeated exposure to violence.

“Our study strongly observes that journalists’ good health and well-being cannot be left to individuals alone,” the authors wrote.

“A healthy and well-motivated journalist is an asset to the nation and the continent, and you cannot get the best from a mind undergoing a serious psychological crisis. This is a pilot study for more detailed research on trauma.”

The researchers urge media organisations, professional bodies, and employers to treat mental health as a critical occupational concern by providing institutionalised psychological support for journalists covering conflict and insecurity.

They also call for cross-border scholarly collaboration to deepen understanding of trauma journalism as a “global malaise” that threatens a healthy, ethical press and ultimately impacts national development.

While global research on journalist trauma has expanded in recent years, this study stands out as one of the most significant examinations of how Nigerian reporters experience and manage emotional strain while documenting violent ethno-religious crises.