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

Other Responses

By Frank Ochberg

There are psychiatric disorders other than PTSD and ASD that follow traumatic events. Most commonly, the diagnosis is an Adjustment Disorder.

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.

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.

Covering Children & Trauma

V. Journalists are Human Too

By Ruth Teichroeb

The nightmares began for one reporter after reading dozens of gruesome fatality reports about babies who had been suffocated, starved or beaten to death.

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Self-Study Unit 4: The First 24 Hours

II. The People

The people involved in a major traumatic event are connected in a web of social and governmental relations. At the scene of the event, there will be victims, friends and family of victims who have come to the scene, and curious by-standers - some of them valuable witnesses, others eager for media exposure but with little substantive information to offer.