Emma Thomasson is a British journalist, media adviser and trainer based in Germany. She specialises in leadership, communication, strategy and workplace wellbeing. Previously she worked at Reuters as a correspondent and bureau chief in multiple countries and also ran a global mentoring programme and a peer network. She works as a consultant and facilitator for several organisations, including The Self Investigation, helping to transform working environments and support teams.
Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2025 Sessions
Stress, burnout and other mental health hazards
We will learn how stress works and how chronic stress can lead to burnout, as well as how we can protect ourselves and our colleagues so that we can make journalists more resilient to a range of challenges, including online harassment.
We will discuss why journalists are particularly at risk of burnout and learn about other risks, such as vicarious trauma and moral injury. The session will include a mixture of theory and interaction, providing a safe space for an open discussion that will give participants the chance to share experiences and tips and explore ways to promote resilience and support each other.
Improving team communication, managing conflict
We will learn about common communication pitfalls and different styles of conflict management and share experiences of how to improve team dynamics.
This will be a very interactive session, where you will identify your preferred style of conflict resolution and explore what you can do to improve challenging relationships and cultivate assertiveness, while promoting team collaboration.