Fox News Middle East correspondent Trey Yingst has spent the last few days reporting on the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan and neighboring Qatar as the Taliban takes over the country.
Yingst recently spoke with The Wrap and stated that “empathy is critical” is needed when reporting on stories in conflict zones. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of maintaining good mental health while operating in high-stress areas.
“As journalists, we are often there on the worst day of someone’s life. Afghanistan was no exception,” Yingst said.
“We always need to remember that having empathy is critical to being a solid reporter. Every single person on that plane has dreams, desires, and aspirations. They feel fear, happiness, and anxiety just like anyone else.”
Yingst further elaborated on how journalists in these locations need to prioritize their mental health to cover these complex subjects.
“Drawing on my own experiences with taking care of my mental health has helped me to become a better journalist,” Yingst said.
“In [Qatar], we interviewed a group of five Afghan university students. I framed my questions to them in a way that I felt helped to understand their thinking about the situation. I didn’t just ask about the logistics of their journey, but also about their mental health and where their minds were focused right now.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
