Dart Blog

Following the landmark PTSD case in which a journalist referred to as "AZ" sought damages against Australia's The Age newspaper, Bree Knoester, one of the plaintiff's lawyers, reflects on the case, which was ultimately won by The Age. "Perhaps injuries are not preventable at all," Knoester writes. "What is clear, particularly through the work of Dart, is that there are systems that can be put in place by media organisations."

The Dart's Europe Director Gavin Rees contributed to the Verification Handbook, released last week by the European Journalism Centre. The new guide features tools and advice on verifying content in breaking news situations. It is currently accessible online, and will soon be available to download in full.

In 2013, Turkey and Syria defended their titles as worst jailer of journalists and most dangerous place for journalists, respectively.

Experts debate whether the mainstream media's use of the 911 phone calls from the Sandy Hook School shootings provide additional value to the public, or if they represent a grotesque exercise in shock-value. 

Following the Utoya shooting in Norway, journalist and researcher Trond Idås found that journalists who felt that their reporting may have caused harm were at higher risk for PTSD.

As major media networks increase their reliance on freelancers for reporting, concerns about their safety and support systems have become a topic of discussion, including at last month's News Xchange conference in Morocco. 

Almost two-thirds of women journalists have experienced intimidation, threats or abuse in relation to their work, according to findings from the first global survey of violence and threats against women in the news media.

In the last week, as many as 40 journalists have been injured by Kiev police or had their equipment destroyed while trying to cover the mass protest there. The Dart Center has resources for how journalists can safely and effectively deal with such situations.

WITNESS has released a 6-part video series to accompany their written guide "Conducting Interviews With Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence," created in consultation with Dart Center Research Director, Elana Newman.

Following Superstorm Sandy, a new AP-NORC Center fellowship will focus on community resilience in times of crisis. Applications are now open!