Tragic Journalism

    Most journalists have to write about tragic events at some point in their career.  Some journalists deal with tragedy almost every day.  How do journalists ethically tell the story of people who are hurting?  How does a journalist remain sensitive to the situation but not get so entangled in the story that they become immobile? 
   I haven't written about any tragic events yet.  I know it will be hard for me because I have strong empathy for people.  I can't say I'm looking forward to it but it is something I have to learn to cope with.  I will be pursuing tragic stories for the rest of my life.  I want to tell the tragic stories in hope that there will be healing.
    "We are ethical story-tellers.  We don't report for the ratings or for the money.  We do this because we have a moral purpose to this world," said Joan Connell, associate director of Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. 
    The Dart Center helps journalists cope with reporting tragic events.  Sometimes it is hard not to get stuck in the hopelessness of the story when you are documenting hardships, she said.  Journalists can develop a kind of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.    
  
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Dart Center Mission Statement

The Dart Center:
Advocates ethical and thorough reporting of trauma; compassionate, professional treatment of victims and survivors by journalists; and greater awareness by media organizations of the impact of trauma coverage on both news professionals and news consumers.
Educates  journalists and journalism students about the science and psychology of trauma and the implications for news coverage.
Provides a professional forum for journalists in all media to analyze issues, share knowledge and ideas, and advance strategies related to the craft of reporting on violence and tragedy.
Creates and sustains interdisciplinary collaboration and communication among news professionals, clinicians, academic researchers and others concerned with violence, conflict and tragedy.
http://dartcenter.org/