Trauma Reporting Study Group

Chair: Michiko Kawahara

It is very important to make efforts to listen to people who have difficulty speaking up, tell their stories to society, and show them the issues they face. These efforts are essential to create a fair discourse space. This is one of the main roles that journalism should play. However, it is especially important to listen to vulnerable people who have suffered physical and mental damage, ― such as victims of incidents, accidents, or (sexual) violence and abuse, disaster victims and their families, survivors of war and conflict, etc―. To hear and tell their stories, knowledge and training are needed.

What exactly does “empathy,” “sympathy,” and “consideration” mean? What are the minimum requirements for interviewers to know? In this study group, we will share issues and explore new ways through “reading session” and “symposium”.

In the reading session, participants read “Trauma Reporting: A Journalist’s Guide to Covering Sensitive Stories” (2019) written by Jo Healey of the BBC, and discuss the contents with experienced reporters and journalism researchers.

The symposium will be held as occasion demands.

•Report on Lecture by Dr. Cait McMahon “Covering Trauma: Building Mental Fitness for Journalists” (February 13, 2024): https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re099/

•Report on Lecture by Chong-ae Lee “How South Korean Journalists Began Speaking About Trauma” (January 25, 2025): https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re128/

•Report on Lecture by Jo Healey “Trauma Reporting: Exploring Sensitive Working Practices for Journalists when Interviewing Victims and Survivors” (February 11, 2025): https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re122/

•A report for 2021 is available here: https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re035/

•A report for 2022 is available here: https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re067/

•A report for 2023 is available here: https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re102/

•A report for 2024 is available here: https://baiforum.jp/en/report/re125/