INTERVIEWING TRAUMA SURVIVORS

1. INTERVIEWING TRAUMA SURVIVORS Even in the face of tragedy, we’ve got a responsibility to be rigorous in collecting information and in testing its veracity. But rigorous doesn’t mean insensitive. We can be humane and effective when interviewing people who have survived tragedies or suffered losses. COMMON REACTIONS TO TRAUMA: Feeling numb, detached, angry, guilty or ashamed. Grief and depression. Negative image of self and world. Avoidance of trauma reminders. SYMPTOMS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: Guilt, shame, despair, depression. Hostility, aggression, feeling constantly threatened. Social isolation, loss of beliefs. Poor health, alcohol misuse. 10 GUIDELINES FOR INTERVIEWING TRAUMA SURVIVORS: 1. Ask permission to interview, don’t assume. 2. Discuss ground rules up front. Discuss privacy and confidentiality issues. 3. Empower them. Tell them they can take a break if they need it; say when they want you to turn off the recorder, set down your pencil or end the interview. Take any opportunity to include them in decisions. Encourage them to ask questions. 4. Let them tell their complete story, not just the parts that interest you. 5. Allow them to choose which pictures of themselves or loved ones that you’ll use—and promptly return them. 6. Give them a way to get back in touch with you after you leave. 7. Be scrupulously accurate when you write your story – triple-check everything. 8. Take seriously and address any concerns about safety and disclosure of information such as their identities or whereabouts. 9. Whenever possible, contact them before the story is posted, printed or aired to let them know what it will say. This also is a great opportunity to make sure you got the facts right. 10. Be aware that victims may experience a crisis reaction when the story appears. Check up on them. Be an active listener but NOT their therapist. If they have a complaint, be open, not defensive. If a correction is warranted, acknowledge it and take action quickly.

2. SELF-CARE FOR REPORTERS Reporting on war crimes and other traumatic events may lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, depression or other emotional side-effects. Signs of trouble:, Anger, irritability, depression, lack of interest, lack of concentration, missed deadlines, absences. Combat journalism has special risks:Among career war correspondents, 28% met criteria for PTSD, 21% for depression, and 14% for substance abuse (Feinsten, Owen & Blair, 2003). These problems can pose risks to: News judgment, career, relationships. Take precautions: A balance of rest, sleep & exercise helps. Insist on - and allow for - down-time. Be aware of your feelings. Don’t bury or bottle them for long periods. Talk about and/or journal them. If needed, don’t be shy about seeking the help of a trained counsellor. FOR MORE TIPS, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON COVERING TRAUMA, TRAGEDY AND DISASTER: www.dartcenter.org Dart Centre in Europe Dart Centre Australasia Dart Center U.S. Specialized seminars and trainingResearch and publicationsDart Center Ochberg Fellowships and Dart Awards