Trauma Journalism Panel

           As excavators of morbid truth, trauma journalists embrace the dangerous and the scarred in hopes of transforming the hurt into healed.

            Over 40 students and faculty of Grady College welcomed an esteemed four member panel from The Ochberg Society for Trauma Journalism on Thursday to discuss the delicacy of trauma and tragedy reporting as well as the variety of implications that follow.

            Trauma stories are intimate; they descend into the most vulnerable depths of a person’s existence. As a journalist, gaining access to these depths can be a daunting task.

            “You have to respect people. That’s number one,” said Jan Winburn, Senior Enterprise Editor at CNN Digital.

            In the field, trauma journalists are subject to front-line combat, gang violence, the wrath of Mother Nature, yet they themselves wield something far more dangerous—the potential to re-open wounds.

            Moni Basu, a reporter for CNN Digital and former editor at The Atlanta Journal Constitution, is all too familiar with the fragility of trauma victims. In 2008, Basu embedded with a U.S. Army unit in Iraq for her book Chaplain Turner’s War.

            “One of the most difficult things I had to do was talk to soldiers who had lost soldiers in their own unit…guys who were like their brothers,” said Basu.

“Many of them were dealing with the trauma still. It was very raw.”

            For many trauma victims, opening up to anyone—especially a reporter—takes time.  Diana Keough, Pulitzer nominated journalist and CEO of ShareWIK Media Group, emphasized the importance of building trust and taking the time to know the person regardless of its relevance to the story.

            “It’s a privilege to have people trust you enough to share their story,” said Keough.  

“It’s not about me.”

             The difficulty for many trauma journalists lies in the gray area between a professional obligation to the story and a moral responsibility to those affected. Basu opposes those who criticize journalists that interfere, especially those present in life and death situations.

            “Never forget that you’re a human being first. Everything else is second. What do you say if a person is dying next to you? Do you not help and say, ‘I’m a journalist’?”

            Charles Davis, Grady College Dean and moderator of the discussion, also embraced empathy and the necessity of human understanding when working in high risk and tragic fields. His ultimate word of advice:

            “Take care of each other.”