[Commlist] CFP: Journalism Practice and Mental Well-Being in the Global South

*Call for Book Chapters - Proposed to Peter Lang Publishers*
*Journalism Practice and Mental Well-Being in the Global South*
The mental well-being of journalists is shaped by the complex interplay 
of professional demands, exposure to safety risks, and the ongoing need 
for resilience in high-pressure environments. Despite increasing 
scholarly attention to this issue (e.g., Belair-Gagnon et al., 2024; 
Bradley & Heywood, 2024; Shah et al., 2024; Storm, 2024), awareness and 
understanding of journalists' mental well-being remain limited (Deuze, 
2025; Ogunyemi & Price, 2023; Pearson & Seglins, 2022). Academic and 
industry discussions on the subject are still developing, with research 
primarily emerging from psychology (MacDonald et al., 2024) and focusing 
mainly on the Global North. While journalists in the Global South often 
align with Western journalistic values and practices (Shah et al., 
2024), they operate in contexts defined by violence, authoritarian 
governance, and resource constraints—factors that heighten stress, 
trauma, and ethical dilemmas while shaping their professional realities. 
These challenges highlight the need for more regionally inclusive 
research and targeted support to better address the mental health 
burdens unique to these environments.
Despite these concerns, mental well-being remains largely overlooked in 
journalism education globally, with many educators lacking the necessary 
training to tackle this critical issue. As a result, journalists enter 
the field unprepared for its psychological demands. This gap is 
particularly noticeable in the Global South, where increased risks, 
systemic challenges, and limited institutional support worsen mental 
health issues. Addressing these disparities is crucial for fostering 
resilience and equipping journalists with the tools to navigate their 
work effectively.
This edited volume aims to broaden the discourse on journalists’ mental 
well-being by incorporating interdisciplinary perspectives and 
amplifying voices from the Global South. It seeks to contribute to 
theory-building and practical solutions tailored to the unique 
challenges that journalists in the Global South face, ensuring that 
mental well-being becomes an integral part of discussions on journalism 
practice, policy, and education. We encourage contributions from 
multidisciplinary teams, including journalism educators, practitioners, 
psychologists, and researchers. We welcome submissions that explore, but 
are not limited to, the following themes:
Mental well-being literacy among journalists and editors
The role of journalism educators in fostering mental well-being awareness
Conceptual frameworks and key theories on journalists' mental well-being
Comparative analyses of journalists' mental well-being in Global South 
and Global North contexts
The impact of mental well-being on journalistic performance and 
decision-making
Challenges faced by female journalists concerning mental well-being
Secondary trauma and resilience in journalism
Institutional and organizational strategies for supporting journalists’ 
mental well-being
The effects of workplace stressors on journalists' mental health
Covering conflicts, natural disasters, and other traumatic events: 
implications for journalists’ well-being
Innovative pedagogical approaches to integrating mental well-being in 
journalism education
We welcome contributions from scholars, media professionals, and 
interdisciplinary researchers examining journalists’ mental well-being 
through diverse methodological and theoretical lenses.
*Submission Guidelines:*
Authors are invited to submit an abstract of 500 words that outlines 
their proposed chapter. The abstract should clearly define the research 
question, methodology (if applicable), and explain how the chapter 
contributes to the book's broader themes. The abstracts should also 
include key references, which do not count toward the word limit. 
Additionally, please provide a 200-word author biography.
In addition to regular full-length chapters (6,000 to 8,000), we 
encourage proposals for 2,000-to-3,000-word interview and/or commentary 
based chapters.
*Important Dates:*
Abstract submission deadline: April 30, 2025
Notification of acceptance and guidelines for chapters: May 15, 2025
Full chapter submission deadline: June 15, 2026
Revised Chapter due: August 15, 2026
Final manuscript submission to publisher: September 15, 2026
*Editors:*
Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah & Olatunji Ogunyemi
**
*Submission & Inquiries:*
Please submit abstracts and direct any inquiries to 
(fawad.shah /at/ auburn.edu) and cc (OOgunyemi /at/ lincoln.ac.uk)
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Editor Profile:
Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah, PhD, is an assistant professor of journalism at 
Auburn University, United States. His research centers on exploring 
factors associated with journalists’ mental health across different 
national and cultural contexts, contemporary threats to journalism as an 
institution, and the social implications of emerging technologies. He is 
also co-chair of the Health Communication Working Group of IAMCR.
Olatunji Ogunyemi, PhD, is a Professor of Journalism at the School of 
Education and Communication, University of Lincoln, UK. Ogunyemi is the 
founder of Journalism Education and Trauma Research Group (JETREG) and 
the Media of Diaspora Research Group (MDRG) and the founder/principal 
editor of Global Diaspora and Media.

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