Children deserve special consideration when tragedy strikes. Yet few journalists understand how children’s physical and social responses to trauma differ from those experienced by adults.
From guidance on naming minors to advice on age-appropriate interview techniques, these resources aid and inform journalists on how children affected by traumatic events can be involved in your reporting and news coverage in general.
The Dart Center's second inaugural Global Early Childhood Reporting Fellowship is focused on illuminating issues related to young children’s growth, development and wellbeing. The 2022 program will support fifteen journalists with reporting stipends, mentoring, and on-going education to deepen their knowledge. Apply by February 28, 2022 at 5:00 pm EST.
On September 30th, the 2021 Dart Awards honorees joined us for three roundtable conversations to discuss their craft, and approach to writing and reporting complex stories.
This style guide is designed as a quick, authoritative reference for reporters, editors and producers working on tight deadlines. It includes brief evidence-informed guidance on news choices, language usage and ethics in reporting on the impact of trauma on individuals, families and communities; recommendations for appropriate use of relevant psychological and scientific terminology; and special considerations when reporting on consequential trauma-laden issues such as racism and sexual violence.
This project focuses on 29 Alaskan women and men of different races and socio-economic backgrounds seeking to inspire change in Alaska’s justice system, and to de-stigmatize being a survivor of sexual violence. The judges called “Unheard” “exceptional, original journalism” that “puts the voices of survivors at the forefront” and “reimagines how trauma-aware, culturally-sensitive, collaborative reporting can be done.” They applauded the project’s “emphasis on the heterogeneity of sexual violence and trauma” and called the reporting approach “sensitive by design.” Originally published by the Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica on June 1, 2020.