Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Covering Children & Trauma

By Ruth Teichroeb

When children are victims of violence, journalists have a responsibility to report the truth with compassion and sensitivity.

PDF / Request Copies

Standing Up: Davien's Story

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Barbara Davidson, Drex Heikes, Mary Cooney, Don Kelsen, Albert Lee, and Arkasha Stevenson

This powerful and poignant multimedia series tells the story of Davien Graham, who was 16-years old when he was shot by a Latino gang member for being black. With dignity, insight and compassion, the series documents Davien’s life over the course of five years – from his hospital bed to his new life as a paraplegic, through the trial and conviction of his shooter and beyond. Judges called “Standing Up” a “tour de force," “resonating at the highest level of journalistic excellence.” Originally published in the Los Angeles Times in November, 2012.

Small Town, Big Story: Lessons from the Front Lines

Following last month’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, WSHU Public Radio News Director Naomi Starobin shares lessons learned from her newsroom in Fairfield County, Connecticut. More »

Returning From Newtown: How Journalists Leave a Tragedy

By Elana Newman

For journalists returning from Newtown, tips on coping with their experience and the expectations of others to explain it.

Dart Staff and Affiliates Weigh In

In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, Dart Center staff and affiliates were in the news, speaking about best practices for journalists covering tragedy involving children, and how to move forward. More »

Children’s Reactions to Trauma-related News Media

By Summer Nelson, Elana Newman, and Betty Pfefferbaum

Following the Newtown school shooting, a fact sheet on the effects of trauma-related news media on children.

Mass Shooting at Connecticut Elementary School

A mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut left 28 people dead, including 20 children. See the Dart Center's resources for journalists covering this tragedy. 

The Power of Listening

By Andrew Hogg

In 2009, former news editor of the Sunday Times and the Observer Andrew Hogg spoke to journalism students at the City University in London about the treatment of torture victims. In the wake of the London High Court decision allowing three Kenyans to sue the UK government for torture they suffered during the 1950s and 60s Mau Mau revolution, we revive this illuminating speech.

Video - Oscar's Story: A Case Study in Covering Violence

In this video, two award-winning Columbia Journalism graduates talked about how they produced an unforgettable, investigative radio and print feature at the Dart Center’s annual all-class lecture.

The Treatment of Torture Victims

By Andrew Hogg

A tip sheet on how to treat torture victims, adapted from a talk by Andrew Hogg.

Reuters Handbook the First with Trauma Guidelines

By Bruce Shapiro

One of the many virtues of the new online Reuters Handbook of Journalism: It is the first generally-available newsroom style guide with specific guidelines for reporting on victims of trauma. More »

How Clinicians Can Help Journalists Cover Disaster

By Stan Alcorn

"If I asked you to fill in the following statement, 'Journalists are __,' what's the first thing that pops into your head?" Elana Newman, research director of the Dart Center, posed this question Monday as part of a webinar she co-hosted with Dart Center Executive Director Bruce Shapiro. In a disaster, when interviewing and reporting on victims is inevitable, the gap between a clinician's answer and a journalist's answer to this question can be the difference between stories that are both sensitive and effective and stories that are neither. More »

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.

You Can't Give Up: Helping Thousands of Zambia's Orphans

By Frank Green

They're usually barefoot, their clothes don't fit and they need a good scrubbing. Some suffer from AIDS, tuberculosis, herpes, malaria, neglect and abuse. Many hunger for food, others for attention. To Elizabeth Chisembele, the AIDS orphans of Kitwe, Zambia, are worth all the effort and love she is capable of giving.

Columbine: A Photographer's Perspective

By Diane Bui

David Handschuh, staff photographer for the New York Daily News, had just returned to his office when his editor told him to go to Littleton, Colorado. Six hours after watching the event unfold on television, he was at Columbine, covering the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Fighting Crime Together

By Janet Wiscombe

A series of articles exploring how communities adapt to and recover from urban trauma.  Originally published as a series in the Long Beach Press-Telegram from August to November, 1993.

Witnessing and Picturing Violence

By Donna DeCesare

In a multimedia presentation covering gangs and paramilitaries, earthquakes and HIV, a photographer and educator explores how collaboration is the key to making images that are both powerful and responsible.

Child Clinicians & the Media

By Elana Newman and Robert P. Franks

Whether clinicians like it or not, children and families affected by trauma are routinely covered by the media. When that happens, clinicians often face difficult choices.

Note: Available as PDF download only.

PDF / Request Copies

How Covering Jonesboro Changed A Reporter

By Audrey Watkins

When I walked out the door of The Jonesboro Sun news room shortly after 1 p.m. on March 24, 1998, I thought I was about as prepared as a reporter could be in a minute's notice.

Oklahoma City Bombing

By Lisa Beckloff and John Perry

Winner of a Dart Award for its extensive coverage of the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, coverage that helped readers connect to the lives of individual victims, survivors and families. Originally published in The Daily Oklahoman between April and November, 1995.