Dart Awards
Now in their 15th year, the Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma honor the most sensitive, thoughtful and ethical reporting on survivors of traumatic events.
Award News
The Craft of Trauma Journalism

Winners of the 2009 Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma discuss journalistic craft and answer questions in a panel discussion at Columbia University.
2009 Dart Award Winners Announced

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma: The Honolulu Advertiser, The Plain Dealer of Cleveland and Public Radio International's "The World."
2009 Dart Award Final Judges
A list of judges for the 2009 Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma.
2008 Dart Award Ceremony
Journalists from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, National Public Radio and WFCR speak and share excerpts from their winning work on video.
Dart Award: History and Analysis
Since 1994, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma has recognized outstanding trauma reporting through its annual Dart Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence.
Award Lessons
2008 Dart Award Panel
At the 2008 Dart Awards ceremony, honorees from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and NPR spoke in a panel discussion: "Out of the Shadows: Reporting on Violence Against Women." Watch excerpts from that discussion.
Best Practices in Trauma Reporting
Because newspapers have access to the criteria for the Dart Award before they submit an entry, most of the articles submitted for the award reflect the criteria to some degree. The winning article, however, not only “pulls it all together” best – as determined by a diverse panel of discerning judges – but also has an emotional impact on the reader as any good story usually does.
Award Winners
Crossing the Line: Abuse in Hawai’i Homes

This exceptional seven-part investigative series tells the stories of native Hawai’ian women whose lives were forever changed by domestic violence. Originally published in The Honolulu Advertiser in December, 2008.
Daysha's Diary

The intimate diary of Daysha Aiona-Aka, a 21-year old mother who was murdered at the hands of her estranged boyfriend, offers a rare glimpse of the dynamics of unfolding domestic abuse. Originally published in The Honolulu Advertiser in December, 2008 as part of Crossing the Line: Abuse in Hawai'i Homes.
Rape as a Weapon of War
This five-part investigative series examines the brutality of sexual violence in conflict zones and the medical, humanitarian, legal, and political response to it. Originally aired on Public Radio International's "The World" between January and June, 2008.
Beyond Rape: A Survivor's Story
A bold, groundbreaking, piece of journalism in which Joanna Connors turns her reportorial skills on her own sexual assault. Originally published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in May, 2008.
About the Awards
Dart Society Journalists Who Cover Violence
Winners of the Dart Awards for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma become members of the Dart Society, a network of journalists who have received fellowships and awards from the Dart Center, dedicated to promoting sensitive coverage of victims of violence and providing support for journalists who are affected by their work.
