A series of four free webinars address the unprecedented demands placed on newsrooms, not only by COVID-19, but by climate disasters and increased civil conflict.

WAN-Ifra is planning the series - starting January 27 on Singapore/Hong Kong time - with the Dart Centre APAC in Australia, and the support of Google.

Organisers point to daily reporting challenges often overlaid with attacks on journalists via online hate speech, trolling and harassment. "Pressure from these combined events not only manifest through physical tension and burnout, but also psychological stress. When media professionals continuously report on violence, death and injury and receive online trolling and threats the potential for psychological injury is high.

"Managing staff experiencing such a combination of events requires a specific leadership skillset."

The special training series addresses how to protect against and prevent trauma and help newsrooms build resiliency. An introductory webinar (January 27) will be followed by a set of three in-depth sessions for a smaller select group of applicants to equip them with the skills to support colleagues exposed to trauma, educate staff on self-care and basic trauma literacy, and put in place workplace processes which safeguard employees' mental health and well-being.

Speakers are Sri Lankan journalist and researcher Amantha Perera, Dart Centre founding director Cait McMahon, Rowena Paraan (ABS-CBN News) and Ginger Gorman, journalist and author of Troll Hunting.

The webinar is open to all, and free.

27 January 9:30am IST | 12noon SIN/HK | 3pm AEDT Trauma Literacy for News Leaders introductory webinar

By subsequent application only (details to be announced on 27 January)

3 March 9:30am IST | 12noon SIN/HK | 3pm AEDT Trauma Literacy for News Leaders (Intensive) Session 1

10 March 9:30am IST | 12noon SIN/HK | 3pm AEDT Trauma Literacy for News Leaders (Intensive) Session 2

17 March 9:30am IST | 12noon SIN/HK | 3pm AEDT Trauma Literacy for News Leaders (Intensive) Session 3

More details and registration are here.

Pictured: Amantha Perera (left) and Ginger Gorman