Plot

A documentary film project exploring how journalists deal with the trauma that they experience everyday. Intimate conversations with six journalists with advice and insight from a therapist. Journalists are on the front lines when tragedy and disaster strike. They deal with trauma and drama on a regular basis. In newsrooms all across the country, Journalists, Photojournalists, Producers, Directors, Editors all deal with tragedy sometimes on a daily basis. The longer someone works in news, the more desensitized they can become. This project explores how journalists should deal with the build up of trauma and what happens if they don't.

This is a documentary film project exploring the many ways journalists deal with the trauma they experience in the course of their day to day work. Featuring Intimate conversations with six journalists complemented with advice and insight from a therapist, the film takes the viewer on a journey to examine the issue from all sides.

Journalists are on the front lines when tragedy and disaster strike. They deal with trauma and drama on a regular basis. In newsrooms all across the country, Journalists, Photojournalists, Producers, Directors, Editors all deal with tragedy. Sometimes.... too often....they deal with tragedy on a daily basis. The longer someone works in the news media, the more desensitized they are apt to become.

This project explores how journalists should deal with the build up of trauma..... and what happens if they don't.

In "Lens Flares: Trauma in Journalism" Filmmaker Timothy Kiley opens up about his past and discusses how trauma launched him headlong into a career in Journalism.

Reporters Greg Lee, Rob McMillan, Terry McSweeney, Alle Pierce, and Cooper Rummell as well as Photojournalist Chris Tarpening discuss their myriad experiences with trauma they've collected over the years while working in the field.

Some have have found ways to cope and continued to work in the industry. For others, the issue has forced them to leave Journalism and find new careers.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Sara Gilman, PsyD., LMFT discusses the problem and offers some solutions.

The film is thoughtfully scored by Craig Marks adding to the emotion and tension of the documentary.