Resources from the 2024 Global Early Childhood Reporting Institute

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma Global Institute for Reporting on Early Childhood and Caregivers was held March 8-11 at Columbia University in New York City. The institute brought together 30 journalists from 17 countries for four-days of panels, workshops and conversations on early childhood development and innovative, ethical reporting on the youngest children and their caregivers.

Presenters include internationally recognized researchers, clinicians, and child development experts such as Alison Gopnik, Professor of Psychology and affiliate Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley; Charles Nelson III, Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School; Brenda Jones Harden, Professor of Social Work at Columbia University and Catherine Monk, Professor of Medical Psychology at Columbia University. 

“Around the world, this is a difficult time for young children and their caregivers. Escalating adversity in early childhood — whether from war, civil conflict, economic inequality, violence or environmental disasters — all have a lifelong impact. The 30 journalists selected for this institute will be given knowledge and tools to illuminate these critical issues, drawing on evidence-based science and policy to produce reporting that makes a difference in their regions and around the globe,” said Bruce Shapiro, the Dart Center’s executive director.

This reporting institute is the latest program of the Dart Center’s ongoing Early Childhood Journalism Initiative, launched in 2017 to encourage science-informed, child-centered reporting that also examines the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers. Supported by the Van Leer Foundation (The Netherlands), Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal (Brazil), and The Two Lilies Fund (United States), the initiative has trained and supported over 200 journalists from nearly 50 countries.

Resources, including suggested readings and full video coverage, can be found below.