Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

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.

Self-Study Unit 1: Journalism & Trauma

II. Effects of Traumatic Stress

In recent years, thanks to a number of researchers, educators and organizations, the role of traumatic stress and journalism has come under closer scrutiny.

Violence/Crime

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

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.

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.

Covering Children & Trauma

I. Interviewing Children

By Ruth Teichroeb

No matter what the topic, different ground rules apply when interviewing children.

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General Communication

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

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.

PTSD 101

By Frank Ochberg

Young journalists will often encounter violence among their first reporting experiences. The effects of catastrophe and cruelty are newsworthy, particularly when victims are numerous, are famous or are symbolic of something that we all relate to and hold dear: a child killed in a schoolroom; a nurse held hostage in a hospital.

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.