Emotional Management in Journalism and Communication Studies

Abstract

Communication professionals are experiencing a growing level of exposure to traumatic events as a result of their involvement in the coverage of various tragedies, including accidents, climatic disasters, rights violations, and acts of terrorism. However, it is worth noting that journalism and communication university courses often lack comprehensive instruction on effectively managing emotional challenges, anxiety, trauma, self-care, and the prevention of vicarious trauma. The objective of this study is to assess the inclusion of emotional management within the curricula of Journalism and Communication programmes offered by two universities in Catalonia, namely the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. In order to accomplish this objective, a series of semi-structured interviews were carried out with a total of twelve (12) professors who specialise in the fields of Journalism and Communication. Additionally, a thorough analysis was conducted on a set of 97 study plan guides. The results indicate that none of the participants in the interviews possess knowledge regarding any existing training programmes focused on emotional management. Furthermore, they unanimously agree on the importance of implementing such courses. The study plans did not include any subjects that were specifically dedicated to the topic of emotional management. This study presents a set of strategies aimed at creating a cross-disciplinary teaching-learning model that offers a comprehensive educational experience for students. This entails integrating precise subject matter on the previously mentioned topics, fostering critical contemplation and discourse regarding emotions within the educational setting, and advocating for ethical and sound professional behaviours.