Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Children and Media Coverage of Trauma

By Christina Cantrell and Elana Newman

An overview of current research on the short- and long-term impacts of media coverage of tragedy on children, as well as aggravating risk factors and suggestions for future research.

Covering Trauma: Impact on Journalists

By River Smith and Elana Newman

An overview of current research on the occupational hazards for journalists covering traumatic events, the risk factors that aggravate those effects and some suggestions for mitigating those factors.

PTSD 101

Interviewing

By Frank Ochberg

Self-Study Unit 2: Covering Terrorism

Sources and Resources

By Elana Newman and Chris Bull

Sources and resources for Self-Study Unit 2: Covering Terrorism

Self-Study Unit 1: Journalism & Trauma

Sources and Resources

Sources and resources for the trauma and journalism self-study unit.

Miscellaneous

A list of commercial publications that address issues in journalism.

Breaking Bad News

This booklet is intended to offer informal guidance in circumstances where journalists, their editors or managers are required to tell next-of-kin of the death of a colleague.

Self-Study Unit 1: Journalism & Trauma

VI. Best Practices

Each year the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma recognizes outstanding newspaper coverage of victims and their experiences with the The Dart Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence.

Political Communication

A list of academic publications with emphasis on political communication and psychology.

Breaking Bad News

III. Important Considerations

DON'T telephone the family/bereaved in advance to say you are coming. Try to find out discreetly where they might be found in person. If you need to break the news in the workplace, ask the person's manager beforehand for a quiet space to meet.