Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Yesterday's issue of The Australian carries the headline: "Crash Course in Dealing with Trauma." It's the story of American journalist Mike Walter, an accidental firsthand witness to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

After watching from his car as the airliner crashed into the side of the building, Walter was surprised to find himself crying and, later, coping with depression, nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder. After finding the Dart Center, which named him an Ochberg Fellow in 2005, Walter realized that he was not alone; indeed, as Dart Blog readers know, a significant minority of journalists are at risk for PTSD and other psychological problems. Now Walter is raising awareness of the toll trauma can take on reporters through his new documentary, "Breaking News Breaking Down," which will be screening on Friday in Melbourne, Australia.

As Walter told the The Australian:

"It was very very helpful to meet like-minded journalists who'd had their own struggles and learn how resilient we were," Walter says. "Journalists can be objective, but that doesn't mean we don't have feelings and that we can't be impacted by the stories that we cover."

For more about "Breaking News Breaking Down," see the official website.

For details on Friday's screening, see its calendar listing.