From Black Lives Matter to #MeToo, many reporters feel emotional distress covering the violence and abuse their communities face. Here are expert tips on how to navigate that stress.
Seamus Kelters, who died suddenly on September 27, 2017, was an influential chronicler of Northern Ireland’s civil conflict and co-author of Lost Lives: The Story of the Men, Women and Children Who Died As A Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles. An early Dart Center Ochberg Fellow, he played a central role in the evolution of trauma-aware journalism. We asked several friends and colleagues for remembrances of Seamus and his work. Below, reflections and recollections by Susan McKay, Scott North, Donna DeCesare, Frank Ochberg, Joe Hight, Elana Newman, Gavin Rees and Bruce Shapiro. Scroll down for excerpts, and click to the right to read the full pieces.
At its best, honest and rigorous reporting is a powerful antidote to violence, and stands as a bulwark against scapegoating, terrorism, racism and bullying. But reporters need your help to get these stories right.
In coming to terms with this election, journalists must examine the failure of our reporting to seriously account for the single feature of the Trump operation distinguishing it most profoundly from any modern U.S. presidential campaign: The tactical embrace of violence.
As the WDBJ tragedy evolves, how will journalists frame the story?
*Click for tips on handling the death of a colleague, and tips for managers on coping with trauma in the newsroom.
A tip sheet from Executive Director Bruce Shapiro, originally released at the 2005 Investigative Reporters & Editors Annual Conference.
Full video and edited transcript; "Getting it Right: Reporting on Gun Violence"; May 29, 2015.
Use the shooter's name sparingly, with purpose, and instead focus on the survivors. Avoid salaciousness, but don't sugarcoat the facts. Be gentle, but understand that no matter what, asking a survivor to retell his or her story opens up old wounds.
In this video, Bruce Shapiro & Joe Pyle welcome participants to the 2013 Dart Center workshop "Covering Immigrants & Refugees."
In this video, Erika Almiron, Peter Gonzales and Mia-Lia Kiernan have a conversation with Bruce Shapiro titled "Advocacy and Action: The Local Landscape."