reporting


the other hand, researching the life of someone killed in an act of violence can make the bereaved feel appreciated and help them deal with their pain. Respect and collaboration can be therapeutic. The involvement of Gill Moreton, a


In the wake of trauma


Steve Bird reports from the #donoharmjournalism conference looking at covering personal tragedies


I


nterviewing people who are vulnerable is harder than interviewing the powerful. This message, which may


seem counterintuitive, was at the heart of a recent conference in Belfast on dealing with trauma and how journalists report and handle it. The #donoharmjournalism event


was the first of its kind to focus on journalists’ responsibilities to others – and to themselves – and brought together educators, health professionals, journalists and trauma victims in a city that offers continual proof of the physical and psychological effects of violence and its legacy. Angelina Fusco, one of the conference organiserss is a fellow of the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma and a television editor with many years’ experience in Northern Ireland, brought home the relevance of the host city to the day’s discussion of


8 | theJournalist


“what happens to those we report on when journalists leave”. The most powerful expression of how


journalism can shape those who experience trauma came from victims themselves, three of whom spoke about positive and negative treatment by the media after personal tragedies born of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Drawing on their experience and that of others helped by Belfast’s Wave Trauma Centre, they were clear that even small mistakes of fact or failure to empathise can have major consequences. At its worst, attempts to impose a narrative onto vulnerable interviewees can do serious harm. At its best, respect, listening and collaboration can help victims deal with their trauma. The conference heard how actions as seemingly trivial as climbing on a gate to take a photograph at a funeral or sitting in a particular chair in someone’s home can provoke anger and bring up long-buried memories. On


“ ”


Self-respect for journalists can mean saying no to work that may be too difficult to take on without support


psychological therapist based in Edinburgh, and Susan McKay, a journalist collaborating with Dart and Queen’s University, Belfast, to produce a guide to working with trauma victims, added depth to the discussion. They emphasised that respect for interviewees means listening, seeking consent and not offering fake sympathy; and that self-respect for journalists can mean saying no to work that may be too difficult to take on without support, and having a plan to cope on the day and afterwards. Attendees from around the UK agreed with speakers in rejecting imposed narratives focusing on ‘heroes and villains’, on ‘helpless victims’ and ‘guilt and forgiveness’. One spoke of the problem of dealing with large-scale acts of violence as single events when they comprises many individual tragedies. A discussion about journalists’ responsibilities and rights as employees highlighted the NUJ’s Code of Conduct and the importance of training and support from the union, especially for freelance staff. Advice on self-care for journalists


was seen as helpful for those who may be suffering in silence, possibly with secondary post traumatic stress disorder. This conference, which took place


thanks to the support of the Belfast NUJ Branch, benefited from a growing knowledge about the psychology and biology of trauma. The rise of social media, the sharing of imagery, the speed and pressurised nature of much reporting and, in some cases, the relative inexperience of journalists, is changing our exposure to trauma while limiting coping mechanisms. At the end, the only criticism of the


#donoharmjournalism conference was that there was not enough of it. Whether reporting from war zones, terror incidents at home or at Grenfell Tower, whether we are picture editors exposed to multiple harrowing images or witnesses to traumatic evidence in court, an understanding of the effect of trauma on ourselves and others is likely to become increasingly important.


Steve Bird is a member of the NUJ’s national executive council and joint FoC at the Financial Times


TIMOTHY BUDD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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