Whetting the appetite: What are the challenges for journalists covering Syria’s conflict and the migration crisis using UGC?

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the challenges for BBC journalists covering the migration ‘crisis’, particularly the events in Syria that contribute to that movement. Findings from interviews and newsroom observations highlight the emotional risks to journalists when working with user-generated content (UGC), the strategies used to process this material and editorial decision-making employed when determining how best to depict news events. Complex frameworks within BBC News may result in different practices and decisions being made across the newsroom. Editors consider the impact on, and needs of, audiences as routine. But they must also consider the well-being of the staff who may encounter UGC that will never leave the newsroom due to its explicit nature. These journalists risk experiencing trauma and upset, which may also be triggered by the crisis itself over a sustained period. This article raises questions about the best ways for UGC to cover the migration crisis while considering journalists’ experiences and well-being.