Best Practice
Covering the Cu e t .C. C s s
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y M
Best Practices for Journalists Covering the Current D.C. Crisis
Context
Our data from the most recent report shows that communities are often hesitant to engage with journalists because of a long history of harmful coverage that extracts pain, misrepresents experiences, and leaves people feeling retraumatized rather than understood. Journalists are entering Washington, D.C. as Donald Trump continues to occupy the capital. Reports of violence against Black and brown residents, mass arrests, and widespread fear are emerging, even as communities remain determined to exercise their right to resist. In this moment, the press has a critical role to play, but the risk of retraumatizing communities and burning out journalists is high Research from The Cost of the Story confirms that journalism does not just report trauma, it can perpetuate it, especially when newsrooms fail to build in care, accountability, and ethical rigor For generations, resistance and unrest have been framed through narratives that strip away legitimacy and humanity Mainstream media has often defaulted to tropes of chaos, looting, and disorder rather than naming the systemic violence that sparks community action. Racist narratives have painted Black and brown communities as inherently criminal or dangerous, collapsing grief, protest, and survival into spectacles of lawlessness. These frames are not neutral; they shape public opinion, policy responses, and even the physical safety of those in the streets. In this moment, journalists carry a responsibility to tell these stories with clarity, care, and historical awareness. Reporting must make visible both the state violence communities are resisting and the resilience and vision that animate their resistance Anything less risks repeating the very harms communities are already fighting against
This document outlines trauma-informed best practices with concrete protocols for newsrooms, individual journalists, and engagement with directly impacted communities
For Newsrooms: Institutional Protocols
Trauma-Informed Editorial Power Sharing
Form a rapid response editorial pod for DC coverage with a frontline reporter, a community editor, a legal editor, and a care lead
Give the reporter and community editor joint decision rights on framing, sourcing, and headline language
Require any override by senior editors to include a written rationale limited to legal or factual grounds
Hold a ten minute accountability debrief after publication to review accuracy, potential harm, and what requires correction or follow-up
Mandatory Care Protocols for High Risk Assignments
Classify DC coverage of arrests, police violence, or community clashes as high impact assignments
Automatically trigger mandatory supports: one full rest day following the assignment, on-call counseling with a trauma-trained clinician, and a structured peer debrief within twenty-four hours
Provide the option of reassignment without penalty for those who request it
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
MThis research was developed by Black Alder Labs, a narrative and communications innovation lab, with support from the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund at Borealis Philanthropy, and in collaboration with academic partners at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media and American University’s School of Communication. AUGUST 2025