Tips & Tools

Self-Care

While emergency workers have, particularly in the last decade, recognized the need for self-care and organizational safe-guards, journalists may not yet have been recognized as potential candidates for employee safeguards and increased support. Journalists need to remember is that there may be a number of potential stress reactions they may have when they write about particularly stressful topics, and know the strategies and resources they can use to stay resilient.

Dart Resources

  • Covering Trauma: Impact on Journalists

    By River Smith and Elana Newman

    An overview of current research on the occupational hazards for journalists covering traumatic events, the risk factors that aggravate those effects and some suggestions for mitigating those factors.

  • Interview

    Confronting Cruelty: Q&A With Cecilia Ballí

    A 2010 Dart Ochberg fellow reflects on how her work as a cultural anthropologist shapes her approach to journalistic and literary storytelling.

  • Tip Sheet

    Earthquake Advice From One Who's Been There

    By Trina McLellan

    Stay empathetic, stow your ego and keep focused on finding great stories: award-winning photographer Patrick Hamilton's experiences covering quakes in Papua, New Guinea are relevant to newsgatherers working in the Christchurch quake zone.

  • In Depth

    New Media Landscape, Less Media Safety

    By Gavin Rees

    These days anyone, regardless of training, can blog from the frontline of a conflict zone or delve into the shadowy dealings of some local Mr. Big. How will they protect themselves?

  • Speech

    In Harm's Way

    By David Schlesinger

    As legions of self-declared journalists join professionals in conflict zones, all those who seek to practice this craft must learn to do it safely and know how to balance risk and reward.

More Features »

Outside Resources

  • 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.

All Tips & Tools

  • Reporting War

    Recommendations for meeting the emotional challenges of covering war, from a group of seasoned veterans.

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  • News Media and Trauma

    This documentary, available online and on DVD, features a wide range of Australian journalists their recounting experiences covering traumatic stories.

    Request Copies