Reporting under extreme conditions: journalists' experience of disaster coverage

Introduction Media presence on site and reports disasters are crucial parts of disaster communication. Aside from authorities, civil society, concerned businesses citizens, the media constitute an important actor. The working conditions, situational competence management among journalists duty in a area factors within complex crisis This study aims to explore challenges, coping strategies covering Haiti earthquake 2010. Methods Ten months after event, Scandinavian ( n = 32) provided free-text responses about their work through web survey. free- text underwent content analysis. In addition, self-report questionnaires were used assess general mental health posttraumatic stress. Results We found that faced five main challenges Haiti: (technicalities, practical, collegial), professional (mission, approach, roles), personal (traits, emotions, coping), traumatic (general stress) experiential (learning growth). They described difficult challenging mission, but also eye-opening life-changing experience. Most respondents' questionnaire indicated low risk for both poor stress, with few significant exceptions. Being properly equipped mentally prepared, getting collegial support maintaining focus seen as important, good leadership clear instructions editors at home highlighted. Discussion Corroboration present findings would strengthen our knowledge experiences, may provide valuable insights designing preparedness activities future well applying other communication functions disasters.