France Terror Attack: Resources for Coverage

A truck slammed into a large crowd watching the Bastille Day fireworks in Nice, France, on Thursday night, killing more than 80 people. Below are tip sheets and other resources for journalists covering this evolving story.

A truck slammed into a large crowd watching the annual Bastille Day fireworks in Nice, France, on Thursday night, killing at least 84 people, including children. This is the nation's third major terror attack in the past 19 months. 

“We will not give in to the terrorist threat,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Friday morning. “The times have changed, and France is going to have to live with terrorism.”

The Dart Center has resources and tips in French and English for journalists who are tasked with covering this evolving tragedy:

COVERING TERRORISM & MASS KILLINGS

Working with victims and survivors: Journalists, researchers and mental health professionals offer advice on how to deal with people caught up in tragic events.

Poynter's best practices for reaching and interviewing victims of trauma.

Psychiatrist Frank Ochberg, M.D. and Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center, share insights on covering mass killings in the aftermath of the 2011 Arizona shooting that left six dead and a U.S. Congresswoman grievously injured.

Reporter Dave Cullen's lessons from a decade of reporting on the Columbine attacks.

self-study unit on covering terrorism.

In a piece for Walkley magazine, the Dart Center's Bruce Shapiro points to some of what we've learned from covering mass shootings.

"Tragedies and Journalists": the Dart Center's comprehensive guide for reporters, editors, photographers and managers on every aspect of covering tragedy.

"Best Practices in Trauma Reporting," drawn from a decade of Dart Award-winning stories.

Scientific consensus, made readable, on the effects of traumatic coverage on journalists and on media consumers. 

The International Center for Journalists's guide on Journalism and Trauma

Recovery from Unnatural Death: A guide by psychiatrist Ted Rynearson for friends and family of someone who has died violently or suddenly.

 

SELF-CARE

Tips for working with traumatic imagery.

Quick tips on self-care from Dart Centre Asia Pacific.

Self-care advice from an editor who's been there.

The Committee to Protect Journalists' advice for covering crime and terrorist scenes. 

  

ADVICE FOR EDITORS

Tips for managers and editors to help them prepare and support reporters in the field.

Dart Center Executive Director Bruce Shapiro passes on lessons for newsrooms learned from the Virginia Tech shooting.

Quick tips on how to support your reporters.

 

FRENCH-LANGUAGE RESOURCES

Travailler avec des contenus violents: Les photographies et vidéos d’actes explicitement violents peuvent constituer une source cruciale pour documenter la tragédie humaine. Sans négliger leur valeur informationnelle irréfutable, ces contenus doivent être traités avec précaution, car ils peuvent menacer la santé mentale des personnes qui les consultent.

Le risque traumatique : prévenir et détecter les blessures psychiques: Le traumatisme psychologique peut toucher tous les journalistes qui évoluent en zone dangereuse et/ou qui rendent compte d'événements impliquant des populations affligées par des deuils, des violences ou des pertes graves.