The purpose of this collective work is to contribute to the theoretical deepening and critical understanding of the terms of journalism practice in the 21st century. Focusing on the often-silenced or underestimated dimensions of journalistic trauma, as well as the entrapment of media professionals in outdated normative standards, this volume explores the cost of the constant coverage of traumatic events – from the "war zones" of everyday news to armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.

The absence of institutional care and the degradation of the emotional dimension of journalistic work are highlighted as critical factors that burden the mental resilience of professionals and the quality of the produced journalistic work. At the same time, the multifaceted web of threats that journalists are called to confront is examined – from the deregulation of labor relations and precarious employment to hate rhetoric, online harassment, targeting, and even physical extermination.

Through interdisciplinary and evidence-based approaches, the urgent need for institutional support of media professionals is emphasized as a necessary prerequisite for the protection of democracy itself.

Author, Scientific Editor: Lamprini Papadopoulou
Foreword: Evgenia Siapera