Journalists need to be trauma-informed. Journalists need to be trauma-informed. Journalists need to be trauma-informed. Journalists need to be trauma-informed. Journalists need to be trauma-informed. Journalists need to be trauma-informed. Journalists need to be trauma-informed
"Be careful of asking “why” questions — which interrogators tend to favor. Trauma is often associated with high degrees of self-blame, guilt and shame. For this reason, avoid language that might imply the interviewee is responsible in some way."
"Don’t be surprised if accounts only make partial sense. Frequently survivors of trauma shut down emotionally: Their recall may become or seem fragmented, and in some cases they may have blocked out an event entirely."
"Incomplete and contradictory accounts are not prima facie evidence of deception, but rather of the struggle interviewees may experience in making sense of what has happened to them."
"Know that journalists have a responsibility to do everything they can to avoid exposing the interviewee to further abuse."
"Look beyond the trauma. A story is never just about what happened.A person is more than just a singular event. Explore the survivor’s story with the same care, attention to detail and respect that you would want if roles were reversed."
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