Resources

  • Fact Sheet

    Mar 1 2006

    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.

  • Fact Sheet

    Jan 1 2009

    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.

  • Journal Library

    Violence/Crime

    A list of academic publications that address trauma, violence, and criminal justice.

  • Booklet

    Breaking Bad News

    V. Things to Say and Not to Say

    Be open and honest; don't try to shield the family from the circumstances of the death. They may well find out the details through other channels.

  • Online Learning

    Self-Study Unit 2: Covering Terrorism

    III. Effects

    By Elana Newman and Chris Bull

    Most journalists today are a far cry from the mythologized war correspondent coping with internalized images of violence, suffering and despair through stiff drinks and bawdy jokes. Like every human being, newswomen and men suffer emotional consequences from their work.

  • Journal Library

    General Communication

    A list of journals that publish research related to trauma and journalism.

  • Online Learning

    Self-Study Unit 4: The First 24 Hours

    V. Coping Strategies for Families

    Journalists should also be aware of acute stress disorder during this time period and beyond.

  • Tip Sheet

    Covering Children & Trauma

    II. Confidentiality

    By Ruth Teichroeb

    The biggest hurdle when covering tragedies involving children is getting access to information. Stricter confidentiality laws govern everything from their school and hospital records to court and child-welfare files.

    PDF / Request Copies

  • In Depth

    PTSD 101

    Interviewing

    By Frank Ochberg

     

    When reporters seek a trauma survivor's comments soon after the event, they have a high likelihood of encountering one or more of the emotional states mentioned above.

  • Online Learning

    Self-Study Unit 3: Photography & Trauma

    I. The History of Photojournalism

    When specific photographs become symbolic of a particular event, triggering the public's memory (and related feelings and emotions) about that period in time, we can refer to them as enduring historical icons.