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Sherry Ricchiardi, professor of journalism at Indiana University
(Indianapolis), offered these ideas for teaching about victims
and trauma in her ethics course and other courses.
Here are notes on how I use Covering
Violence (by William Coté and Roger Simpson) and
Dart Center concepts in my courses. First of all, I believe that
ethical reporting
about victims and trauma should be incorporated as a part of most
core courses, such as newsgathering, media ethics, international
communications systems. I even weave it into my literary journalism
class.
Overall, I have found students to be very receptive. I notice
that they begin watching local and national media coverage of
victims, trauma and violence with a far more critical eye.
Here is a specific example of how I use the book in media ethics.
Early in the semester, students are required to turn in a book
review based on the following guidelines:
Guidelines for Media Ethics Book Report
Your report should address the following questions. These should
not limit you. However, if each of you uses this common framework
for analyzing this book, our discussions are more likely to be
focused and productive.
1. What is the authors' central theme or message? Consider this
a statement of purpose.
2. What evidence, arguments or reporting/research strategies
do the authors use to make their most important points? Cite specific
examples.
3. In your view, what contribution has this book made to the
literature of journalism?
4. Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the book.
5. What are the most important messages that Rick Bragg and
Jeff Gradney have for us?
6. Provide three examples of how you might use information from
this book in the field as a reporter.
It is appropriate for you to draw from our reading/discussions/assignments
for this review. It is important for you to site specific examples,
show evidence of critical thinking and analysis. Avoid pure personal
opinion.
This report should be considered publishable. Make a copy for
yourself and submit the original to me on the due date. Put your
last name on each page and staple.
__________________________________
This assignment has worked exceptionally well for two reasons
— It pushes students into the trauma literature early in
the semester and provides them an opportunity to consider how
they would apply the concepts. Once they have completed the book
review, such issues as reporting about children, reporting on
rape trauma, writing a sensitive story becomes a natural part
of our discussions.
Here are other assignments that draw on trauma issues: In reporting
classes, I provide a handout on American Journalism Review
stories I have done on journalist's trauma. They read, outline
and discuss in light of current events, such as the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, Daniel Pearl's murder, the high number of journalists'
deaths in Colombia. Again, this drives students into the literature
to do critical thinking and analysis. A win, win for me and for
them.
Each semester, I have a basic assignment where students have
to sign on to the Dart website, review contents, and write a short
essay on one of the features. This can be on how journalists handled
Sept. 11, war coverage, or any other posting that addresses trauma
issues.
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