Communicating a Crisis: The Public Information Officer\u27s Perspective

Established research on certain professions – such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency rescue workers (also called first responders ) – suggests that psychological trauma is related to traumatic events experienced on the job. This has led to research on journalists who have experienced comparable psychological effects due to repeated traumatic exposure that comes from reporting on crimes, murders, car accidents, natural disasters, or other stressful situations – the same events experienced by first responders. This study examines public information officers and any similar psychological effects since this occupational group is a near professional cousin to journalists. Using an online survey, public information officers\u27 exposure to traumatic events experienced on the job was measured as well as the frequency and intensity of trauma exposure