Professor, Psykologisk institutt, Universitetet i Oslo fanny.duckert@psykologi.uio.no SAMMENDRAG Mediene har i økende grad fått mer naergående fokus på enkeltpersoner, men det foreligger lite systematisk kunnskap om hvordan det oppleves å bli utsatt for et mediedrev. Vi har dybdeintervjuet 43 personer som gjennom sin yrkesrolle har blitt utsatt for medienes kritiske søkelys. Fokus har vaert på hvordan mediesaken påvirket deres livskvalitet og helse, på kort og lang sikt. Deltakerne var i utgangspunktet oppegående, ressurssterke personer. Samtlige opplevde sterk økning i belastning og reduksjon i livskvalitet under mediesaken, men intensiteten varierte. Belastningsfaktorer var de direkte møtene med journalister, ventetiden før oppslag og selve oppslagene. Felles var opplevelser av tap av kontroll, manglende oversikt og stor uforutsigbarhet. De aller sterkeste belastningene var knyttet til invadering av privatsfaere og sterkt negative, personlige tilbakemeldinger i det offentlige rom. Oppfølging etter 4-5 år viste at de fleste hadde lagt opplevelsen bak seg, men fortsatt opplevde majoriteten sterke følelsesmessige reaksjoner når de møtte saken igjen. NøkkelordKritisk medieeksponering, mediedrev, stress, mestring, livskvalitet ABSTRACT Critical media exposure has become more usual, but little is known about the reactions of individuals being subject to a media hunt. In-depth interviews have been conducted with 43 persons, initially competent and well functioning, who in their professional roles had been subject to critical media exposure. The focus was on how the media exposure had influenced their health and quality of life. All participants experienced high levels of stress and low quality of life during the media exposure, albeit of varying intensity. Special risk

Ten Norwegian TV-hosts, all nation-wide celebrities, were interviewed about their experiences with critical media exposure. How did they perceive their relationship with the press?  What were the main sources of stress? How did they cope? All expressed a strong focus on impression management and self-presentation. The majority described an independent and often playful interaction with the press, in order to keep control over their programs and their privacy.All had experienced negative media exposure. Sources of stress were one-sided presentations, evil informers, personal attacks, and harming their family. They experienced both direct effects by the media coverage, and indirect effects through interaction with other people.The majority used problem-focused coping strategies, actively influencing the media coverage; emotion-focused strategies, regulating their thoughts and feelings; and meaning-focused strategies, allowing reflection. Proactive self-presentation work helped maintain and protect their identities.Two of the participants reported using more defensive strategies, and had suffered more intensely.