The moral of the story
Journalists’ perceptions of moral injury risk
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19477201 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kari E James (0000-0001-6120-9148, The University of Queensland, corresponding author), Blake M Mckimmie (0000-0002-2750-6111, The University of Queensland), Ryan Ver Maas (0000-0003-0746-7976, The University of Queensland), Fiona Maccallum (0000-0002-7751-1090, The University of Queensland) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journalism (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1464-8849 • E-ISSN: 1741-3001 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/14648849261457158 |
| OpenAlex | W7162846707 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
Journalists are frequently exposed to morally challenging events and circumstances that can give rise to self-discrepancy, the sense that one has acted in a way that is inconsistent with one’s beliefs and values. This self-discrepancy may contribute to moral injury, a potentially debilitating psychological condition characterized by guilt, shame, anger, demoralization, self-condemnation, social alienation, and difficulties with trust and forgiveness. While research has begun to explore occupational, organizational, and personal factors associated with risk of moral injury in other high-risk occupations, very little of this research has focused on journalism, where occupational norms may differ. This qualitative study investigated journalists’ ( N = 20) perceptions of how moral injury is understood in their field and what factors might influence moral injury risk. Thematic analysis identified five themes addressing: (1) the kinds of events and circumstances that can give rise to moral injury; (2) the tensions created by misaligned values; (3) the extent to which media organisations support the public interest mission of journalism; (4) The level of preparation or support a journalist receives around the moral challenges of the work; and (5) The relationship a journalist has with their role. Findings extended our understanding of moral injury in several important ways, highlighting that journalists are ill-prepared for moral injury exposure but have insight into ways organizational policy, practice, and training might better prepare and support them
Moral agency · Moral development · Moral disengagement · Moral injury · Moral reasoning · Perception · Qualitative research · Social cognitive theory of morality · Thematic analysis · Forgiveness and Related Behaviors · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Public Relations and Crisis Communication
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The Importance of Being Flexible
A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder
Self-discrepancy
Thematic Analysis
Moral injury and moral repair in war veterans
Identifying Moral Injury in Healthcare Professionals
The emotional well-being of journalists exposed to traumatic events
A Theory of Professional Identity in Journalism
Moral injury among Child Protection Professionals
The Role of Temperament in the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Amongst Journalists
A challenge to identity
The Evolution of Objective and Interpretative Journalism in the Western Press
The exposure to traumatic events and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among Korean journalists
Transcription in Research and Practice
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |