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Impact of AI on mental health helplines
The helpline run by Vita Activa, our parent organization, was inundated last September with far more requests for help than it usually handles. But what originally seemed like normal growth quickly escalated into calls for help outside Vita Activa’s scope of work. Once the dust settled, an investigation into the massive spike in calls for…
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Travel notes – MDRnet.org
What are we facing emotionally when we travel? Journalists traveling to cover sensitive topics face several significant emotional challenges, ranging from the psychological weight of the stories they tell to the stress of operating in high-risk environments. Vicarious and Secondary Trauma When journalists “cross borders” to report on displaced populations, they are often “carrying trauma”…
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A time for action
The Media Resilience Network Welcomes Joe Ruiz as Managing Director of Communications The Media Resilience Network is pleased to welcome veteran journalist and newsroom leader Joe Ruiz as Managing Director of Communications. Ruiz brings decades of experience across national and local news organizations, along with a deep commitment to supporting journalists and strengthening the industry.…
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From Launch to Liftoff
Building a Culture of Care for Journalists We officially launched the Media Resilience Network, and we’re still holding the energy from that room. We are so grateful to the Miami Foundation for their generous hosting. Twenty-five people joined us to mark this beginning — a gathering that reflected the breath and diversity of the U.S. media…
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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20th, 2026 New National Survey Finds Widespread Burnout and Economic Insecurity Driving Mental Health Crisis in U.S. Journalism More than 80% of journalists report burnout or chronic stress; cost, workload, and lack of culturally competent care cited as primary barriers to support United States — A new national survey to be…
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From Crisis to Care
What Journalists Told Us About Mental Health in the U.S. Journalism is essential to democracy—but the people who produce the news are under extraordinary strain. In 2025, the Media Resilience Network (MDRnet) launched Stay Tuned: A U.S. Journalism Mental Health Survey to better understand how journalists across the country are experiencing their work, their well-being,…
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The Journalism Resilience Program
MDRnet.org, powered by Vita-Activa.org, is launching its first certification and recruitment process for bilingual coaches and counselors. This program is designed to prepare bilingual (english/spanish) professionals to support journalists in moments of crisis with empathy, clarity, and professional care. Over the course of five session, participants will learn how to recognize signs of distress, respond…
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Stay Tuned: a US journalism mental health survey
Your voice shapes tools, care, and community partnerships to uplift journalism. https://tinyurl.com/journomentalhealth
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Vita Activa Receives Press Forward Funding to Launch Media Resilience Network (MDRnet)
One of 22 Projects Awarded a Share of $22.7 Million to Tackle the Urgent Needs of Local Newsrooms JULY 16, 2025 — Vita Activa is proud to announce the launch of the Media Resilience Network (MDRnet), made possible through support from Press Forward, a national initiative committed to reimagining and revitalizing local news in the…
The Media Resilience Network
Building an Infrastructure for US Journalism