Tips & Tools

Disaster

Along with emergency professionals, journalists are often "first responders" when an earthquake or a terrorist attack devastate a community. Large-scale disasters challenge reporters on the ground and newsroom managers alike, both in the midst of a breaking crisis and for months or years afterward.

Dart Resources

  • Exemplary Journalism

    Bringing it Home: 2013 Dart Awards

    On May 1, 2013, the Dart Center celebrated the 2013 Dart Awards winners and honorable mentions and presented a roundtable discussion. The conversation explored the story-behind-the-story, and drilled down on what's involved in undertaking hard-hitting, humane investigations of trauma and pursuing high-impact collaborations. Dart Foundation Vice President James Lammers and Dart Foundation Program Manager Claudia Deschaine presented the awards.

  • Event Video

    Sandy Hook and Beyond: Panel Videos

    Watch our entire slate of panels from the symposium.

  • Special Report

    Crisis Reporting in the Age of Social Media

    By Anna Codrea-Rado

    In the high stakes business of trauma reporting, social media has become a powerful and controversial journalistic tool. We are also only just beginning to understand how to use it. A special report in advance of our symposium on Monday, April 22, in conjunction with the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, at Columbia Journalism School: Sandy Hook and Beyond: Breaking News, Trauma and Aftermath.

  • Special Report

    Boston Marathon Bombings: Coverage Resources

    Chaos descended on Boston Monday as the city's storied Boston Marathon was rocked by two bombs near the finish line. As the facts emerge, journalists can draw on lessons drawn from other large-scale terrorism and disasters. 

  • Announcement

    Award for Outstanding Media Contributions to Trauma Psychology

    The APA’s Division 56 is now accepting nominations for outstanding media contributions to trauma psychology. The deadline is April 15, 2013.

More Features »

Outside Resources

  • Covering the 9/11 Anniversary

    Poynter Online

    A set of resources from David Shedden at the Poynter Institute related to the September 11th attacks.

  • Terrorism and Disasters

    International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

    A variety of educational materials for clinicians and individuals to use in response to terror attacks around the world.

  • Anniversary Reactions to the September 11th Attacks

    National Center for PTSD

    On the anniversary of traumatic events, some people may find that they experience an increase in distressing memories of the event. This fact sheet examines responses to the anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

  • In the News Archive

    Investigative Reporters and Editors

    Resources compiled for past breaking news stories by Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. Topics include tanker crashes, earthquakes, severe winter storms, building collapses, wildfires and hurricanes.

  • Dealing With Disaster

    Editor and Publisher

    Joe Strupp and Doug Cosper discuss the problems faced by journalists in extreme situations, with emphasis on the challenges faced at the World Trade Center after 9/11.

  • Resources for Journalists

    National Transportation Safety Board

     A brief overview to assist journalists covering the first few days of a National Transportation Safety Board accident investigation.

  • For Journalists Covering Transportation Accidents

    National Transportation Safety Board

    Advice and links to other resources.

  • Covering Tragedy

    ABC Radio

    2007 Ochberg Fellow Lisa Millar talks about trauma journalism on the National Media Report.

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