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• Children are not miniature adults. Be aware of the impact witnessing traumatic events can have on children. Children are more vulnerable to trauma because of their size, age and dependence. Prior trauma, past mental health problems or a family history of such problems may increase a child's risk.
• Traumatized children may want to tell their story, but it may not be in their best interests to be interviewed, and in some circumstances it can exacerbate their exposure to trauma.
• Have a parent and/or mental health professional present when interviewing a child or teen.
• Most states have confidentiality laws that seal the records of children. Sometimes reporters can get around this roadblock by acquiring copies of the documents directly from
guardians, lawyers, therapists or case workers (note: In many states, doing so is illegal).
• Consider running a sidebar with information about the possible effects of trauma on children. Click here to read an example, "Helping children cope with tragedy," from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Dart Center Resources
• "Investigating Mental Health and Trauma." Kristen Lombardi of The Boston Phoenix and Jane Hansen of The Atlanta Journal Constitution discuss the challenges of covering children and trauma in a panel discussion at the 2004 IRE Annual Conference.
• "Covering Columbine,"
a 57-minute documentary on the traumatic impact of the Columbine High School shootings on students, families, the community and journalists.
Written and produced by Meg Moritz of the University of Colorado (CU) School of Journalism and Mass Communication, it is available through the Dart Center.
• "Reporting Columbine." A series that examines reporting about Columbine on the shooting anniversary from the perspectives of victims, journalists and trauma scientists.
Links & Sources
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). "The news media have a tremendous responsibility in reporting traumatic events," says an NCTSN guide for news media. "Journalists and reporters can provide a service to children and families in helping them understand difficult situations and how to cope in the aftermath."
• The NCTSN has published recommendations for journalists who cover childhood trauma.
• "PTSD in Children and Adolescents," A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet.
An overview of the effects of trauma on children and adolescents.
• "The Effects of Community Violence on Children and Adolescents," A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet. A summary of the specific effects of community violence on children and adolescents.
• "Child Sexual Abuse," A National Center for PTSD Fact Sheet. It
details the effects of sexual abuse on children, and adults exposed to sexual abuse as children.
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