-
Building Communities of Care for Journalists in Minneapolis
At the Media Resilience Network -MDRnet-, we believe that caring for journalists is essential to protecting journalism. Reporters and media workers routinely cover conflict, disasters, migration, political violence, and other crises while carrying the emotional weight of the stories they tell. MDRnet builds trauma-informed, peer-centered support systems that combine research, community care, and practical tools. …
-
Exercises
Wheel of Emotion Care Awareness Plan Choose what strategy you would like try and make notes for the future:
-
Manuals and Guides
Psychological First Aid Manual – Vita-Activa.Org: This manual offers guidance on providing empathetic and emotional support to colleagues in need, available in both English and Arabic. The PEN America Online Harassment Field Manual offers concrete strategies for how to defend yourself and others. We wrote this guidance with and for those disproportionately impacted by online…
-
The human cost of keeping newsrooms running
When we think about the stressful news journalists generally cover, our mind is likely to go toward violent crime, family separations, corruption and so many more. And those are indeed stressful and can lead to burnout, and it’s what we hear a lot about at the Media Resilience Network. But what about when you’re in…
-
MDRnet at Stanford
A Week of Conversations on Journalist Wellbeing, Storytelling, and Collective Resilience The Media Resilience Network along side our parent organization, Vita Activa Org, hosted a three-day public event series at Stanford University from May 26–28, 2026. Our Three-day program brought together journalists, filmmakers, scholars, students, and media leaders for community dialogue, live storytelling, and documentary…
-
What is NINA?
NINA is an AI-assisted conversational triage system that helps guide MDRnet users toward the support and resources they need in a clear and efficient way. Its role is to handle first contact, understand users’ situations, and orient them toward the most appropriate type of support within MDRnet. It does not replace people. Its purpose is…
-
Bay Area gathering for the journalism community
Journalism, Storytelling, and Collective Care: A Three-Day Program at Stanford University May 26–28, 2026 | The Nitery Theater Journalists are trained to witness the world’s crises. Far less attention is given to what happens after the story is filed. This May, Media Resilience Network (MDRnet) and Vita Activa will host a three-day program at The…
-
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…
-
What are we facing emotionally when we travel?
Travel notes – MDRnet.org 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” alongside those they interview.…
-
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.…
The Media Resilience Network
Building an Infrastructure for US Journalism