Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

A resource for journalists who cover violence

Simon Maina / AFP / Getty Images

Foreign journalists hold banners as they march to the Egyptian Embassy in Nairobi on Feb. 4 to show support to Peter Greste, an Australian journalist who was arrested and detained in Cairo while on assignment for Qatar-based Al-Jazeera network.

Dart, Columbia Faculty Call For Journalists' Release

On an international day of protest for the release from prison of five Al Jazeera journalists held in Cairo, Dart Center Executive Director Bruce Shapiro and other faculty of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, sent a formal protest letter to Egypt's President, demanding their release.

Efram Lukatsky / AP

Protesters clash with police in central Kiev.

Ukrainian Journalist Killed as Crisis Worsens

In what one official called "the worst act of violence suffered by media members since the start of the protests in December," Ukrainian journalist Vyacheslav Veremyi was shot by masked gunmen outside Independence Square. It is the latest example of journalists being targeted.

John Moore, Ochberg Fellow: A Mexican immigrant working as a restaurant busboy watches as an immigration reform march passes by on May 1, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. Hundreds of reform supporters from labor, immigrant, faith and youth groups rallied on the steps of the state capital before marching through downtown Denver.

"Covering Immigrants" Full Workshop Resources

In case you missed our two-day workshop on covering immigrants and refugees in December, click here for a complete slate of workshop resources, including video coverage from all 11 panels and conversations, and tips from workshop speakers.

Teun Voeten

A newspaper's coverage over the course of a single year illustrates the media's depiction of violence.

Deconstructing Mexico's "War on Drugs"

What began as a mix tape played in a Mexico City club morphed into a website that became an unlikely and incisive commentary on the government and media’s representation of the drug war. Michelle Garcia reports from Mexico.

Alan Chin: Steve Coll, Dean of Columbia Journalism School, looks on as David Finkel, author of "Thank You For Your Service," speaks at the Dart Center's event "Warrior, Interrupted."

Warrior, Interrupted: Coll & Finkel

On November 20, 2013, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Finkel was joined by his longtime colleague and Dean of Columbia Journalism School, Steve Coll, for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation about the human impact of war in front of a standing room only audience.

Darren Staples / Reuters

Police and media gather outside a house in Trimley St. Martin near Ipswich, December 18, 2006, where a man was arrested on suspicion of murdering five prostitutes in Eastern England.

Excerpt

Gavin Rees On "The Trauma Factor"

In a new book about challenges facing journalism, Dart Centre Europe Director Gavin Rees contributes a chapter about recent insights into trauma science and what journalists and media scholars can learn about them. The chapter is available here as a free download.

Alan Chin

Richard Engel poses a question to the audience at the Dart Center-duPont Awards "Covering Violence" event on November 12th.

Event Video

Richard Engel on Covering Violence

Part two of the Dart Center-duPont Awards All-Class Lecture series at Columbia Journalism School featured Richard Engel, Chief Foreign Correspondent, NBC News. Moderator Ann Cooper spoke with Engel about covering violence and trauma in conflict zones throughout the Middle East. Watch the full event video.

Fadi Arouri / Reuters

Journalists run from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during a protest against the Israeli barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin near Ramallah, July 3, 2009.

In Depth

What Every Freelancer At Risk Needs To Know

Dart Centre Europe Director Gavin Rees recently wrote for the BBC about the importance of taking account of trauma, not only for the well-being of journalists but the integrity of their work. The BBC hosted a day of workshops aimed at sharing expertise on working in hostiles environments, aimed particularly at freelancers.

Alan Chin

Rachel Dissell recounts her experiences at The Plain Dealer of Cleveland as Bruce Shapiro and Kelly McEvers look on.

Event Report

Dissell & McEvers on Covering Violence

On November 5 at Columbia University, the Dart Center and the duPont Awards co-hosted a panel discussion with Kelly McEvers of NPR, and Rachel Dissell of The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, on covering violence and trauma in conflict zones, here and abroad.

David Degner

In a house on the border of Baba Amr, Homs bullet holes riddle the walls and furniture. Blocks of the city are abandoned and most shops closed.

Under the Radar In Syria

As revolutions spread across the Middle East in 2011, Syrian American author and Dart Fellow Alia Malek decided to leave New York and move to Damascus, where her family had a home. In an interview with the Dart Center, she talks about the Syrian media, misunderstandings about the conflict, and living undercover. With photos by David Degner.

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Tips & Tools

Dart Blog

Mon, 02/24/2014 - 11:44am

Ochberg Fellows at Columbia

On January 25, the 2013-2014 Ochberg Fellows concluded a week of seminars and conversations on new developments in trauma science, and journalism craft and practice on issues of violence, conflict and trauma. More »

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Wed, 02/19/2014 - 5:25pm

Mexican Journalist's Death Has Two Versions

By Zenobia Azeem

On February 11, Mexican journalist Gregario Jimenez de la Cruz, who covered the police beat in Veracruz, was kidnapped and murdered. While the official story attributes the blame to personal differences with a local bar owner, evidence points to a more sinister motive involving Jimenez's reporting.

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Tue, 02/18/2014 - 11:13am

IFJ Publishes Report on Journalists and Media Staff Killed in 2013

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has published a full report on the number of journalists and media staff killed worlwide in 2013. More »

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Thu, 02/13/2014 - 4:26pm

Pakistani Journalists Defy Threats From All Sides

By Zenobia Azeem

Pakistani journalists face threats from both militant groups and government agencies for doing their jobs. Many have been killed with complete impunity for the killers. Speaking at Columbia's Journalism School, a group of nine journalists representing television and print media outlets, recounted the challenges, dangers, and victories of reporting in Pakistan. More »

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