(For the full infographic, please click on the image above)

The power dynamic between journalist and trauma survivor is inherently unequal.

Unlike survivors, journalists know and control the reporting process. They ask the questions, choose the quotes, and frame the story—often without any input from the survivor. Power and control (“agency”) are taken from the survivor during the traumatic experience; therefore, trauma experts agree, restoring agency is essential for the survivor’s recovery. It is vital that journalists learn how to afford survivors greater agency in the reporting process to mitigate the power differential and thus avoid exacerbating the existing trauma. Below are some pointers for journalists to ensure their reporting will result in a powerful, accurate story that also supports a survivor’s healing.

 

Agency.

Recognizing the dynamic described above, look to foster opportunities for collaboration and choice. Before the interview starts, consider asking questions such as:

 

• Do you want a support person with you during the interview?
• Where and when would you prefer to be interviewed?
• Are there certain words or labels you would like me to avoid (e.g., “victim,” “accuser”)?
• Are there specific topics you wish to include or exclude?

 

Provide the survivor an opportunity to review their quotes and fact-check how they are referred to (age, profession, title, etc.) in your draft. Even if this is not the usual practice for your outlet, you can argue that having a survivor review their contribution only enhances the quality and veracity of your story.

 

Predictability.

Rescheduling an interview is sometimes unavoidable, but remember that survivors do not approach these conversations lightly. They may not sleep well, and/or may find it hard to concentrate on work before the interview. Do your best to keep appointments to avoid prolonging this anxiety. (Sometimes the consequences are even more serious: In one instance, a survivor had arranged for a family member to be with them during the interview, but the journalist rescheduled, and the survivor was left with no option but to do the interview alone. They ended up self-harming.)

 

Be transparent about how much of the interview will likely be used (for example, the length of a TV news segment, or whether the survivor will be one of many people interviewed for the piece).

 

Make sure the survivor is aware that certain things may lie beyond the reporter’s control (such as choice of headline, editing decisions, and clearances from the legal department), so that they are prepared.

 

The survivor may be nervously anticipating the reaction of their family, community, or the abuser to the story, so keep them apprised of progress and the date the piece will drop.

 

Emotional regulation.

Asking survivors to recount traumatic experiences can be harmful because it activates the survival response, signaling the nervous system to kick into high gear and flooding their body with stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Long-term exposure to cortisol can cause lasting damage to the body.

One way to mitigate this risk is to refer in the piece to previous accounts (if any) the survivor has given. Although some editors might be hesitant to link back to other outlets, encouraging the survivor to revisit traumatic events multiple times causes unnecessary toxic stress.

 

Talking to the higher brain.

If the survival response become activated during an interview, a survivor may struggle to access the cognitive functions governed by what’s called the higher brain, which include speech, memory, and analytical reasoning. Without full access to these capacities, the survivor’s account can become difficult for the journalist to follow.

 

It benefits both survivor and journalist to recognize when the survivor needs a break and a chance to regulate.

 

The survivor may feel particularly nervous right before the interview.  Asking a survivor to sign a release form when they don’t have access to the higher brain hinders their ability to give true informed consent. It is better to send release forms and interview questions in advance, allowing the survivor to process both sets of information while in an emotionally regulated state.

 

Compassionate investigative journalism.

Investigative reporting with sexual assault survivors requires a different, noncombative approach. Whereas, for example, it could be appropriate to play devil’s advocate when interviewing a politician who needs to be held to account, survivors may be crushed by what they interpret a reporter’s skepticism and disbelief. Confronting the survivor with the abuser’s counterclaims can make the survivor feel as if they are on trial.

 

Predictability is key: Let the survivor know that you may need to ask difficult questions rather than ambushing them.

 

Coherent narrative.

Trauma memory is fragmented, intense and often comes back in the form of “flashbacks” or other equally disturbing intrusive thoughts and memories. If the survivor is able to process these trauma memories and transform them into a coherent narrative (that is, a voluntarily recalled logical and sequential account), it reduces activity in the fear center of the brain. The journalist is engaged in the same task: developing a story (or coherent narrative) from the survivor’s experiences.

 

Thus, a trauma-informed journalist does not only avoid retraumatizing a survivor but may also contribute to the survivor’s healing journey—and get more cogent story along the way.

 

Final thoughts

Given the potential impact, both positive and negative, of media interviews on a trauma survivor, journalists have a responsibility to learn more about trauma and trauma-informed journalism. Even when equipped with this knowledge, it is important to remember that a trauma-informed approach cannot be neatly distilled into a fixed set of guidelines. Ultimately, the measure of trauma-informed journalism is whether the survivor feels better for the interaction, not worse. If that is the case, the journalist has not only avoided further harm to the survivor, but most likely has also produced a deeper, richer, and more compelling story.