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.

Tragedies & Journalists

III. Your Community

By Joe Hight and Frank Smyth

Understand that your coverage of a traumatic event will have an impact on your readership, viewers or listeners. Remember that the tone of your coverage may reflect the tone of the community's reaction to it. Thus, you should establish policies that affect your coverage: For example, consider coverage of public memorial services for the victims, instead of private funerals. And, if you do cover private services, call the funeral home to ensure that you will not intrude.

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PTSD 101

The Syndrome

By Frank Ochberg

PTSD is three reactions at once, all caused by an event that terrifies, horrifies or renders one helpless.

Self-Study Unit 3: Photography & Trauma

II. Memorable Photographs

One of the best ways to assess the power of photographs is to see some examples. Here are links to web sites that feature award-winning and memorable images that have made an impact on people’s lives.

Self-Study Unit 2: Covering Terrorism

II. Journalism and Terror

By Elana Newman and Chris Bull

The journalists-as-target scenario presents dilemmas for editorial decision-makers. Because terrorism is generally intended in part to garner publicity for a “cause,” no matter how dubious, the media are faced with a Hobson’s choice between publicizing attacks against its own and ignoring the violence unleashed in the name of the cause.

Covering Columbine

Produced for classroom use by qualified journalism programs, this 57-minute documentary examines the traumatic impact of the news coverage of the Columbine High School shootings.

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Mental/Physical Health

A list of academic publications that deal with a wide range of mental and physical health issues.

Breaking Bad News

II. How to Prepare Yourself

Try beforehand to find out, as far as possible:

• The location of the body, or the injured colleague, and whether next-of-kin are going to be able to visit (many bereaved wish to do so);
• Exactly what happened (as far as is known at this point), the circumstances, where they were, what they were doing, the details of their death or injury, the condition of the body.
• Experience suggests that bereaved family members often want to know this information in considerable — and accurate and honest — detail. Be prepared to help them find out everything they need to know.

Self-Study Unit 3: Photography & Trauma

Photojournalists are part of the team of first responders whenever a tragedy occurs. They are there to document the news event in pictures and their work can have a strong and lasting impact on the public consciousness and themselves.