Covering trauma: Suggestions for a more collaborative approach

Stories involving personal tragedy in dramatic circumstances are an essential part of news, Beyond the editorial imperative to go out and get the story, journalists have little to guide them when interviewing the sources of these stories, the victims and their families. Some choose to ignore them, relying solely official sources; others confront them. pushing to get an emotional response on camera. In the interests of better, more accurate and useful coverage, this article suggests journalists treat these sources as they themselves would like to be treated in similar circumstances.