Abstract

The way that journalists cover disasters and traumatic events has been developing in recent years, gradually moving from an approach driven by the demands of deadlines and the primacy of gathering facts to a more active consideration of the need to treat individuals and communities affected by disasters and traumatic events with dignity and respect. It would be wrong to assert this shift in approach is universal in newsrooms, but interviews with three experienced journalists who have had trauma-awareness training demonstrate at least some change in attitudes and approaches. This chapter outlines what is required in trauma-aware reporting.