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
Chelsea Fuller
Co-Founder of Black Alder Labs, Principal Researcher and Co-Lead
Takara Pierce
Co-Founder of Black Alder Labs, Principal Researcher and Co-Lead
This work would not have been possible without the insight, generosity, and deep care of so many people who contributed their time, expertise, and heart to this process
First, we extend our sincerest gratitude to Dana Coester at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media and Sherri Williams at American University’s School of Communication, our institutional partners for this research Your decades of work at the intersections of journalism and social movements is the foundation on which we built this study Your participation and unwavering support throughout this project grounded us and encouraged us to be bold in our pursuit of something that will bring more truth, vital support, resources, and equity into the journalism industry. Thank you for your work and for standing beside us throughout this journey.
Thank you to Alicia Bell and the Racial Equity in Journalism (REJ) Fund at Borealis Philanthropy for believing in this work and seeing the value in building new models rooted in care, accountability, and possibility for newsrooms and the communities they serve We're deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment to racial equity in journalism and for making work like this possible
To Brianna Nargiso Newton, EdD, stellar researcher at American University, we are endlessly thankful for your brilliance. Your support in shaping the framework that allowed us to ethically and thoughtfully capture the data was invaluable. You brought rigor, compassion, and vision at every step of the process, and your contributions to the report strengthened both its depth and its clarity.
To Peter Oduwole, MSEd, LPCC-S, your presence as a licensed clinical therapist anchored us throughout the work Thank you for offering critical, clinically grounded analysis of the data Your contributions to the report shaped some of our most important insights and ensured that this work remained grounded in care, integrity, and responsibility
To Amarie Baker, thank you for designing a report that is as beautiful as it is impactful Your creative vision and stunning design work translated our words into something visually captivating and that will surely help people connect to the data and stories in this report in ways that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
To Adiel Suarez-Murias, thank you so much for your thoughtful copyediting and contributions to the report. Your care and attention to detail really helped shape this into something sharper and more grounded We’re grateful for your work and for how you held the integrity of the voice and message throughout
Finally, to the participants who shared their stories and held space for one another in interviews and focus groups, thank you We know that many of the stories you offered were difficult to speak aloud Your honesty, vulnerability, and generosity are the heart of this report We hope your contributions will help lead to long-term change in the field and shape a future where both journalists and communities are more cared for and protected.
This research emerged from a core truth expressed by Black journalists and others covering impacted communities, organizers, and survivors: the media does not just report on trauma, it can perpetuate it. Black communities in particular have long endured the impact of harmful reporting practices that flatten identity, extract pain and grief, and misrepresent lived experience This research was developed in response to those realities, grounded in the understanding that the trauma journalists encounter while covering traumatic events is not only emotional, but is shaped by who is in power in the newsroom, and by the absence of care and support from newsroom leadership.
To examine the emotional and structural dynamics of trauma in journalism and the impacts experienced by communities being covered by journalists, the research team conducted two connected studies. Study 1, Take Care, with institutional partner Dana Coester at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media, used a nationwide quantitative survey to explore how journalists experience and manage the emotional toll of covering traumatic events With a focus on racial and gender-based violence, the survey measured coping strategies, stress and anxiety levels, and the availability of mental health resources across the country’s newsrooms Study 2, The Ripple Effect, with institutional partner Dr. Sherri Williams at American University’s School of Communication, used qualitative methods including two focus groups and a series of in-depth interviews to explore how the reporting process and subsequent media coverage affects both journalists and the communities they report on. Participants included journalists, media advocacy leaders, and individuals directly impacted by trauma-related coverage, such as organizers, students, and survivors. These conversations examined how these individuals experience harm, how communities protect themselves, and what ethical, trauma-informed journalism could look like in practice at scale
Together, these studies offer a comprehensive view of the emotional, ethical, and institutional realities of how traumatic events are reported in the United States. The findings reveal a profession stretched thin by repeated exposure to harm and suffering and a field that often lacks the tools, support systems, and leadership to respond with care. The findings in this report also illuminate how historically resilient communities, especially Black communities, have developed strategies to shield themselves from media harm: setting boundaries, managing journalists’ access, and advocating for–and at times demanding–relationship-based reporting. This research contributes to the growing field of trauma-informed journalism by centering those most affected and offering practical insight into what a more accountable, ethical, and healing-focused media landscape requires
Together, the two studies paint a comprehensive picture of the cyclical nature of the harmful expectations placed on journalists, narrative storytellers, and media professionals, especially those of color and those most proximate to the trauma they are expected to cover The findings expose the persistent lack of traumaresponsive resources and point to a deeper connection between the unaddressed emotional toll on journalists and the cumulative impact on directly-affected communities. These communities continue to bear the weight of state-sanctioned violence, race and gender-based harm, and the storytelling violence produced by an institution that demands rigor and care, but rarely offers the same in return.
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
M
The Reality for Journalists
Existing Research
A Call to Action
Literature Review
Research Questions
Beginning in 2014, following the police killing of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a young Black journalist was sent to cover events unfolding on the ground around the country. Upon arriving to cover each flashpoint, he was overwhelmed by the fear he felt for those interacting with police in the streets each night, for his life and the lives of other reporters documenting the events In the early days, no one called No one checked in He was expected to keep working There was no protocol he could refer to for how to navigate this kind of situation, no debrief when he returned and no acknowledgment of what it cost him, as a journalist and a Black man, to carry out that assignment. Before arriving at each scene, he knew he would witness a community in grief and resistance, but he did not expect the complete lack of support from his newsroom After years covering the Ferguson Uprising and subsequent moments, he took a long break from hard news There was a moment when he wondered if he would return He sought therapy and recalibrated with the support of family, close colleagues and friends before returning to news. Fast forward ten years and he is now one of the nation’s leading national editors on issues of race and state-sanctioned violence.
Journalists are routinely sent to document some of the most traumatic and politically charged events in societal life They are dispatched to scenes of police killings, protests, environmental crises, car accidents, terrible incidents of gender-based violence, ICE camps and prisons, and sites of public mourning. 1 2
These assignments are not rare or exceptional and in fact are often regarded as par for the course. For many journalists, especially those from historically marginalized communities, covering traumatic events is more than a straightforward assignment, because in order to effectively and fairly cover suffering, one has to be aware of their own humanity The absence of that awareness creates harm instead of trust Despite the fact that many journalism educators and practitioners debate the validity of objectivity many encouraging a more human-centric and traumainformed approach to reporting most newsrooms still provide little to no training on trauma-informed practices. Even fewer provided access to consistent mental and emotional health care for their staff Journalists’ labor is expected Their pain is ignored
1 This story was shared with our research team by an anonymous journalist during a one-on-one interview
2 In this research, “gender-based violence” refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender, gender identity, or perceived gender norms It is rooted in power imbalances and systemic inequality, often reinforcing or resulting from discrimination, patriarchy, and oppression This includes but is not limited to physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm or threats of harm, and it can occur in both public and private spaces This research recognizes that historically, gender-based violence disproportionately affects women, girls, and gender-expansive people
There has been growing interest in how journalism intersects with trauma, and many people and institutions have been thinking about this conceptually for quite some time Still, most of the existing research comes from academic institutions or media think tanks that are somewhat removed from the newsrooms and communities most affected by the trauma in question.
While existing scholarship may offer valuable insights, there remains an overwhelming methodological gap that has often neglected the lived realities of journalists reporting within systems of harm, and they rarely center the voices of those most impacted by the stories being told
Additionally, few studies capture the experiences of historically resilient communities directly impacted by gender-based violence and racialized violence, highlighting a knowledge gap in understanding how these communities navigate and resist the compounded harm perpetuated by media Too often, trauma is treated as an abstract idea rather than something that shapes daily life, reporting practices, and community trust
Ultimately, the research in this report emerged from a core truth expressed by Black journalists, those from impacted communities, organizers, advocates, communicators and survivors: the media does not only report on the trauma people experience, it often perpetuates it.
In particular, Black communities have endured generations of media coverage that extracts pain, misrepresents experiences, and legitimizes the harm people experience due to systemic violence Following the murder of Mike Brown in 2014, news organizations around the nation invested millions into coverage of race, policing, and systemic issues. New shows were created on legacy broadcast networks, newspapers created new beats, and online platforms focused on stories of impacted communities popped up everywhere These welcomed investments were intended to reflect the industry’s commitment to telling these stories; however, networks invested exponentially fewer resources focused on preparing journalists to ethically tell those stories in ways that minimize the potential for harm.
Today, the industry continues to reward journalists’ proximity to violence and trauma without offering the care, resources, or informed consent that ethical reporting actually requires These failures have consequences not only for those reporting the news, but for the people and the communities the stories belong to
To confront these realities, our research team conducted two connected studies. The first, titled Take Care, with institutional partner Dana Coester at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and Media, is a national quantitative survey of journalists and media professionals who have reported on traumatic events. The survey focused on those covering racial violence, gender-based violence, police brutality, and protest It captured data on coping strategies, emotional and psychological distress, access to workplace support, and the presence or absence of trauma-informed infrastructure in newsrooms. The results paint a picture of an industry grappling with issues like the massive retrenchment in funding for local and nonprofit newsrooms, media consolidation, and dwindling relevance with the rise of content creators and influencers-turned-trusted messengers The data tells us that for journalists across the country, burnout is common, the pressure to be first trumps being in right relationship with sources, and care for those involved in the reporting process is seen as an individual responsibility rather than a structural one.
The second study, The Ripple Effect, with institutional partner Dr. Sherri Williams at American University’s School of Communication, draws on qualitative interviews and focus groups with journalists, media advocacy leaders, and individuals directly impacted by trauma-related media coverage. These participants included organizers, students, and survivors who have experienced firsthand the effects of being covered by the media during moments of crisis. They described a range of harms, from being misquoted or dehumanized to being retraumatized through repeated exposure. They also named what ethical journalism could look like, and shared the strategies their communities have developed to shield themselves from media harm Many emphasized the importance of developing long-term relationships with communities, consent-based interviews, and the presence of care in every stage of the reporting process.
Together, these two studies offer an important view of the emotional, ethical, and institutional realities of dealing with, and reporting on, trauma.
The survey provides breadth, surfacing patterns across the profession in the U S, while the interviews and focus groups offer depth, revealing the lived experiences behind the data
These studies are in conversation with each other in this report They expose a deeply-entrenched culture in journalism that requires reporters, including those from impacted communities, to keep showing up without the necessary support, all while demanding they remain objective and prioritize getting the story first over a reporting process that minimizes harm for their sources
This report is more than an academic intervention It is a call to action. It offers a framework for understanding the impact of trauma in journalism, not just through the lens of mental health but through the lens of the media's role in building narrative power. Journalism is never neutral.
3
It shapes public memory, drives policy, and defines legitimacy It informs how people decide who is to be believed and who should be discredited Media dictates whose grief is visible and valid and whose should be erased And when practiced without care, journalism reproduces the very harms it claims to expose and minimize (Society of Professional Journalists, 2014).
We must make clear that we do not conflate the experiences of journalists and directly impacted communities. Even for journalists of color covering their own communities, there are various levels of responsibility and privilege contributing to their experiences that must be accounted for However, the harms they navigate are indeed connected Journalists are agents of change who can both contribute to or obstruct a community’s ability to build narrative power.
This report affirms that trauma-informed journalism cannot be reduced to a checklist or a training module. It is not just about improving coverage. It is about reimagining the field of journalism itself to better serve the public It is about asking different questions and updating traditional reporting techniques to ensure they are trauma-informed and in line with a code of ethics that takes all people into account, not just some.
Finally, this report is an invitation to collectively answer critical questions about an industry that is under attack by an administration set on dismantling the first amendment and the free press altogether. We know that journalists alone can’t ward off those attacks; people in our communities will need to help organize the resistance. But in order for people to do that, they must trust the industry and the people sent into their communities to report on their lives We must ask: who is journalism for? Are journalists and media leaders accountable to corporations and C-suite leaders or the people at the heart of their stories? How is care practiced, not just promised? And what would be possible if all journalistic institutions addressed their complicity in exacerbating trauma in our communities and committed to reporting that supports accountability, equity, healing, and truth?
3 Narrative power is a type of power that uses storytelling to shape the norms and rules by which our societies live Narrative power necessitates that we not only center the experiences of the people in closest proximity to oppression, but that we also work toward models whereby those who are most impacted are a part of leading, identifying solutions, setting priorities, creating policy agendas, and shifting narratives about human value (Radical Communicators Network, 2025)
The emotional and psychological toll that journalists experience when covering traumatic events has been the subject of increasing academic attention Research shows that repeated exposure to trauma can have lasting effects on journalists’ mental health, including symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout, and vicarious trauma. This issue is compounded by the fact that many newsrooms lack adequate mental health support
The analogy of journalists as "first responders" to traumatic events has gained traction in recent years Journalists, like emergency responders, are frequently thrust onto the frontlines of crises such as mass shootings, natural disasters, and acts of terrorism However, unlike emergency personnel, who often receive extensive training in coping with trauma, journalists are typically left unprepared to manage the psychological aftereffects of their work. Studies show that journalists covering conflict zones or disasters are at a higher risk of developing psychological disorders, including PTSD, than their colleagues who report on less traumatic events (Feinstein, Owen, & Blair, 2002; Dworznik, 2006) Much of the research on journalists and trauma focuses on war correspondents and those reporting on domestic terrorism or natural disasters, where the physical danger and emotional toll are evident. Yet, despite this growing body of evidence, the journalism industry has been slow to implement systematic trauma-informed practices.
According to Feinstein and Starr (2022), the rate of PTSD among war correspondents is comparable to that of military personnel However, trauma exposure is not limited to war reporting While domestic reporting on natural disasters and terrorism is well-documented, there is a significant gap in understanding how journalists cope when covering stories tied to systemic issues such as racism and gender-based violence. These topics often entangled with deeply entrenched social inequities can create unique emotional and ethical challenges that are not fully addressed in existing research Dworznik and Grubb (2007) found that local journalists who reported on traumatic events, particularly those involving community violence, experienced high levels of anxiety and burnout This suggests that trauma-related mental health issues are widespread across the field of journalism, not only in conflict zones but also within domestic newsrooms.
Although there is considerable research focusing on the trauma faced by journalists covering wars and terrorist events, the experiences of journalists covering tragedies rooted in racism, statesanctioned violence, and gender-based violence remain understudied A survey conducted by Smith et al (2017) on journalists covering the Syrian refugee crisis found that almost half of the respondents reported significant emotional distress and secondary trauma. Yet, similar large-scale studies have not been conducted on the coverage
of issues like police brutality, racialized violence, or gender-based violence, even though these subjects are fraught with emotional labor and ethical concerns for the journalists who report on them
Pyevich, Newman, and Daleiden (2003) argue that trauma-related disorders in journalists can manifest in both psychological symptoms such as flashbacks and emotional numbness and physical symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, and increased susceptibility to illness. However, when it comes to reporting on racialized violence, journalists also face the added challenge of navigating the historical and sociopolitical implications of these events, which often leads to feelings of helplessness or guilt, especially for journalists of color (Clark & Moloney, 2020) Despite these additional layers of trauma for journalists of color, and journalists from impacted communities few studies explore these aspects, leaving a significant gap in the literature. 4
Despite the complex reality journalists face in covering traumatic issues, many newsrooms fail to provide comprehensive mental health support McMahon (2020) notes that traditional newsrooms often lack dedicated mental health professionals or structured debriefing protocols for journalists who cover traumatic stories. This is exacerbated by the "toughness" culture often associated with the journalism profession, where seeking mental health support can be seen as a sign of weakness (Newman, Simpson, & Handschuh, 2003) Journalists covering racialized and gender-based violence, in particular, may feel further isolated, as these topics often involve sustained emotional labor and ethical complexities that differ from traditional crisis reporting. In their study of newsrooms, Feinstein et al. (2014) found that journalists are often reluctant to engage with mental health resources for fear of stigma, professional repercussions, or a lack of understanding from their editors and peers
Despitetheseadditional layersoftrauma—for journalistsofcolor,and journalistsfromimpacted communities—fewstudies exploretheseaspects.
Many media organizations also lack formal training programs on trauma-informed reporting Traumainformed care is a concept that emerged in healthcare and social work sectors, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the impact of trauma on individuals and communities, providing appropriate support, and avoiding retraumatization (Fallot & Harris, 2009) While this concept is widely adopted in fields like education and mental health services, journalism has only recently begun to explore how it can be applied to media coverage As Newman et al (2009) argue, trauma-informed journalism requires not only sensitivity to the psychological toll on journalists but also a more ethical and mindful approach to covering stories that may trigger trauma in affected communities.
This is especially important for journalists covering racism, police brutality, and gender-based violence, where survivors often feel retraumatized by media coverage Clark and Moloney (2020) highlight that journalists reporting on racial violence often face pressure to frame these stories in ways that align with editorial or political agendas, which can lead to further emotional strain, especially from affected communities. Additionally, gender-based violence stories often involve retraumatizing survivors or subjecting them to victim-blaming narratives, posing unique ethical challenges for reporters (Bennett, 2021) Yet, despite these challenges, there is little research into how journalists can cover these events in a way that is both trauma-informed and socially responsible.
4 In this research, racialized violence refers to violence that is rooted in and perpetuated by systems of racism and white supremacy It targets individuals or communities because of their race, ethnicity, or perceived racial identity and is often used to enforce racial hierarchies, maintain power structures, or instill fear This violence includes but is not limited to physical, psychological, structural, or symbolic, and it shows up in many forms, from hate crimes and police brutality to policies that systematically harm non-white communities The term emphasizes that the violence is not isolated or incidental, but part of a larger social and historical pattern of racial domination and exclusion
Trauma-informed reporting extends beyond the mental health needs of journalists; it also emphasizes ethical considerations in how stories are reported Ethical journalism involves being mindful of how the framing and reporting of traumatic events affect the communities involved. According to Herman (2015), journalists must strike a balance between their professional obligation to report on events and the potential harm that coverage may cause to trauma survivors
This is particularly crucial in cases of racialized and gender-based violence, where the media’s portrayal of victims can perpetuate harmful stereotypes or reinforce societal biases. For instance, reporting on police shootings of unarmed Black men may invoke longstanding racial trauma for both journalists and the communities they cover (Muhammad, 2019)
Recent studies suggest that both journalists and their employers would benefit from integrating traumainformed practices into newsroom culture. McMahon (2020) calls for newsrooms to implement structured debriefing sessions, access to mental health professionals, and trauma-informed training for both journalists and editors This aligns with research from Cote and Simpson (2000), which found that journalists who received trauma training were better equipped to manage the emotional toll of covering traumatic events and were more ethical in their interactions with trauma survivors. These practices not only support the well-being of journalists but also enhance the quality of journalism, ensuring that reporting is more empathetic, accurate, and less likely to cause harm
As journalism increasingly grapples with how to cover racialized and gender-based violence, a shift towards trauma-informed practices is critical Without this ethical rigor, journalists risk perpetuating harm both to themselves and the communities they cover. This
Additionally, trauma-informed reporting requires that media personnel build trust with affected communities. This involves engaging with trauma survivors in ways that are respectful and nonexploitative. Ross and Rivers (2018) argue that trauma-informed reporting must include participatory methods, where journalists prioritize the voices of survivors, and respect their agency throughout the reporting process
Journalists should also seek to maintain long-term relationships with communities, checking in after stories are published to understand the broader impact of their reporting. This is especially relevant in the context of gender-based violence and racialized violence, where communities may already distrust the media due to previous misrepresentation or harmful reporting practices
This project was guided by two connected studies, Study 1: Take Care and Study 2: The Ripple Effect, each designed to examine the emotional, ethical, and institutional realities of trauma in journalism. Together, these studies explore how journalists experience trauma and how trauma is felt by the communities impacted by news coverage, particularly in the context of race and gender-based violence
The following research questions framed the inquiry:
This national survey focused on journalists, narrative storytellers, and media professionals who have reported on traumatic events. The study aimed to understand the scope of emotional strain and the adequacy of support systems available across different media settings
How are journalists coping with covering terror and trauma?
How are journalists engaging with mental health resources or support services?
What wellness resources are available in newsrooms?
What recommendations do journalists have for improving newsroom support?
This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of journalists, media advocacy leaders, and individuals directly impacted by media coverage of trauma. It aimed to center voices from communities often harmed or retraumatized by traditional reporting practices
How do community members experience media coverage of traumatic events?
How do journalists, especially those from impacted communities, navigate harm within and beyond the newsroom?
What does trauma-informed reporting look like in practice?
Together, these research questions aimed to surface a fuller understanding of trauma’s role in the journalism ecosystem not only how it is experienced by those doing the reporting, but also how it is received and internalized by those being reported on.
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
Capturing the Full Picture: Breadth and Depth
Study 1: Web-based
Quantitative Survey
Study 2: Focus Groups and In-Depth Interviews
Ethical Considerations M
This report is grounded in two distinct, but interconnected research studies, each offering critical insight into the complex relationship between journalism, trauma, care, and community Both were designed to confront a central truth: the media does not just report on trauma, it can perpetuate it
The first study, Take Care, gathered quantitative data from journalists and media professionals to understand how they are emotionally impacted by covering traumatic events, what coping strategies they use, and what resources or support structures are available within their newsrooms Particular attention was paid to those covering stories of racialized violence, gender-based violence, and sexual violence, some of the most emotionally demanding assignments in the field The survey helped us map out the landscape of wellness, burnout, and unmet care needs within journalism today.
The second study used interviews and focus groups to center the voices of people most directly impacted by trauma-related storytelling This included survivors of racial and gender-based violence (directly impacted people), media advocacy leaders, and journalists who are themselves embedded in the communities they report on These conversations explored what it feels like to be covered by the media during moments of crisis, highlighting how journalists’ choices ranging from language and framing to physical presence can either retraumatize or support those impacted by violence
Sexual violence and racialized violence are not just categories of coverage, but lived experiences that shape how participants move through the world and understand the media’s role in shaping public narratives.
We conducted these two studies together because one alone would not have been enough The survey gave us breadth It showed us the patterns, the gaps, and the limits of current newsroom infrastructure The interviews and focus groups gave us depth They revealed the emotional, relational, and historical weight that people carry when stories about their lives and communities are reported in ways that lack care.
Together, these studies form a more complete picture of what is at stake Journalists are telling stories that matter, but they are doing so within institutions that are not built to support them Communities are opening themselves up to visibility, at significant emotional cost Racialized violence and gender-based violence in particular sit at the intersection of public urgency and private grief. They demand a level of ethical, trauma-informed reporting that most newsrooms are not currently equipped to provide.
Sexualviolenceand racializedviolencearenot justcategoriesofcoverage, butlivedexperiencesthat shapehowparticipants movethroughtheworld andunderstandthe media’sroleinshaping publicnarratives.
To build a framework for trauma-informed and trauma-responsive journalism, we need to understand both the conditions under which journalists are working and the consequences those conditions have on the people being reported on. These two studies, together, create the foundation for that understanding
By integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, the research team was able to identify broad patterns while also exploring the nuanced and lived experiences behind them, offering a comprehensive portrait of the emotional and ethical realities of trauma reporting within the U S media landscape, specifically regarding racialized violence and gender-based violence
The first phase of the research utilized a web-based survey disseminated via Qualtrics to journalists, photojournalists, and narrative storytellers across all 50 states Participants reflected a range of experience levels, media roles, and storytelling modalities, including local, national, freelance, and institutional settings. Invitations prioritized individuals with experience reporting on traumatic events, particularly those involving racialized violence, police brutality, and gender-based violence
The survey measured: Trauma exposure: Frequency and types of traumatic stories covered
Mental health outcomes: Levels of stress and anxiety, using adapted items from the GAD-7 scale (Spitzer et al, 2006)
Workplace support: Access to mental health days, counseling services, peer support, and traumainformed training
Coping strategies: Personal, peer-based, and professional mechanisms used to manage emotional burden
Resource gaps and recommendations: Respondents shared ideas for how newsrooms can better support staff covering traumatic beats
Sample size: 85 journalists and media professionals
The survey’s findings reveal a significant disconnect between newsroom support systems and the actual needs of journalists, underscoring the emotional labor required of those reporting on the frontlines of societal trauma. Many journalists and storytellers described the ongoing need to compartmentalize their emotions in order to continue working, often without adequate institutional support or space to process the psychological toll of their assignments
The second phase of this research used qualitative methods, including two focus groups and a series of in-depth interviews, to better understand the real world impacts of trauma-related media coverage Focus groups were conducted with participants who engage with journalism from different perspectives, including both mainstream media insiders as well as individuals outside of mainstream media This design allowed the research team to gather a range of experiences and insights from people actively involved in the field both as practitioners and members of impacted communities offering a more complete understanding of how trauma is reported, received, and felt across roles and communities
Participants included: Journalists (particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color)
Media advocacy leaders
Individuals directly impacted by race- or gender-based violence and their subsequent media coverage (e g , survivors, organizers, family members of deceased)
Participants were organized into focus based on the above categories.
Data collection themes included:
Ethical tensions in trauma reporting (e g , consent, framing, representation)
Experiences of retraumatization from harmful or extractive reporting practices
Recommendations for more relational, contextdriven, and healing-centered journalism
Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns across participant groups. Conversations surfaced not only critical feedback on current journalistic practices, but also urgent insights into the expectations placed on journalists covering race and gender-based violence, often pressured to get reactions or answers in the midst of deep grief, pain, and community suffering
Media advocacy leaders shared how communities have learned to anticipate harm from mainstream coverage, sometimes developing strategies to prepare or shield community members from retraumatization These included filtering which journalists are allowed in press spaces, setting boundaries, and creating buffers to protect historically resilient but overexposed communities Participants also offered community grounded
solutions, calling for trauma-informed training, sustained engagement, and newsroom accountability that centers care, consent, and long-term relationship building
Given the deeply sensitive and emotionally charged nature of this research, both studies were designed using a trauma-informed and participant-centered approach:
Informed Consent: All participants were fully informed of the study’s purpose, risks, and their rights, including the right to withdraw at any time
Confidentiality and Anonymity: Identities were protected and quotes were anonymized unless explicit consent was given for attribution.
Mental Health Resources: All participants were provided with a list of free and low-cost mental health services This list included 24/7 hotlines, crisis resources, and culturally competent counseling networks should any part of the conversation elicit distress
Clinician Oversight: A licensed mental health clinician collaborated with the research team to review all data collection tools, ensuring that the questions were ethically framed, non-triggering, and emotionally responsive to the experiences of trauma for survivors and journalists alike The mental health clinician was also present during qualitative data collection in the unlikely event immediate crisis support was needed
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
Findings from Survey Data
Findings from Interviews and Focus Groups
A Call for Institutional Intervention
The results from the Take Care survey offer a sobering, but clarifying picture of the conditions journalists and media professionals navigate when covering traumatic events in the U.S. With 85 respondents from a range of newsrooms and freelance networks, the data reveal a media field where trauma exposure is frequent, mental health support is inconsistent, and care infrastructure remains either under-utilized or nonexistent What emerges is a profession straining under the weight of persistent exposure to trauma, inconsistent or absent workplace resources, and a culture that normalizes harm while discouraging vulnerability. The findings are organized into core themes that reflect the reality of working in newsrooms shaped by urgency, scarcity, and silence, and what media workers say they need to survive it
This study does not just offer a snapshot of stress in the field; it documents a systemic care crisis within journalism, one where emotional survival is treated as a private responsibility, not a structural concern.
Survey respondents reported covering an array of trauma-related stories throughout their careers:
Natural disasters: 31.5%
Gender-based violence: 27.4%
Domestic violence: 26.7%
Race-based violence: 26 0%
Police violence: 24 7%
Mass shootings: 23 3%
These are not occasional or one-off field assignments For many, they are the core of their professional routine. Multiple respondents reported covering overlapping and repeated tragedies: police violence followed by protests, uprisings followed by the funerals, etc. The boundaries between one traumatic assignment and the next often blur, and for many, never fully close
“Covering the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre made the most emotional and visceral lasting impact on me. ” Anonymous Survey Respondent
“Alton Sterling. Covering that was INSANE. It was so clear some editors didn’t care about me or my safety. It took me thinking cops were coming to kill me at a door knock outside one of the cop’s houses, sending them audio where they could clearly hear how scared I was, for them to even show a little support. But I was back at it soon after... I left hard news soon after. NEVER returned, minus editing. ” — Anonymous Survey Respondent
This kind of exposure is not without consequence It shapes how journalists see themselves, their work, and the communities they cover. It also reveals the porous line between bearing witness and enduring trauma as a matter of course.
79.4% of respondents reported experiencing mild to moderate stress when covering traumatic events
74.1% reported mild to moderate anxiety
Nearly 5% said their anxiety reached a severe level
While these may appear as clinical categories on a scale, the open-ended responses make clear that stress and anxiety are not episodic reactions; they are enduring companions for many working journalists Even those who rated their distress as "moderate" described long-term emotional impact, interrupted sleep, recurring intrusive thoughts, and a sense of guilt for not feeling "stronger. "
“To clarify the levels of stress and anxiety I experienced… It’s not during the event that affects me most, it’s after the reporting. ” — Anonymous Survey Respondent
The delayed onset of emotional distress, compounded by the speed of newsroom demands and absence of decompression time, is a recurring theme. What seems to hurt journalists the most isn’t just what they see, but how little space they’re given to process it These findings reflect what trauma scholars describe as cumulative or secondary traumatic stress (Figley, 1995)
Percentage of respondents who experienced:
These are not merely workplace stressors; they are symptoms of occupational trauma, often compounded by systemic under-recognition of journalists' mental health needs.
Even as the data evidence that trauma is pervasive in journalism, a striking 75.3% of respondents reported never once seeking professional support after covering a traumatic story This figure is especially concerning given the widespread exposure to high-stakes events and violence described above.
Among those who had not accessed mental health care:
44.6% said they didn’t know what resources to seek
24.6% said they lacked access
24.6% expressed fear of how it would be perceived by others
This pattern reflects more than individual hesitation; it is structural neglect (Figley, 1995). The profession has normalized emotional burnout, and for many journalists, seeking help is still seen as deviance from newsroom culture
“I left. That was my strategy. I knew that no newsroom could understand and help me ever. ” Anonymous Survey Respondent
Stress and anxiety are not episodic reactions; they are enduring companions for many working journalists Even those who rated their distress as "moderate" described long-term emotional impact
“None of the newsrooms I worked for really talked about it. It is mostly something the individual has had to deal with. ” Anonymous Survey Respondent
This is how the burden compounds: trauma exposure is high, support is low, and there is no cultural permission to seek care
When care is absent, journalists turn to whatever coping mechanisms they can access, usually outside the bounds and scope of their job descriptions The most common strategies reported include:
Talking with colleagues or friends: 74.1%
Engaging in hobbies or creative outlets: 54.1%
Physical activity: 42.4%
Meditation or mindfulness: 35.3%
Taking time off work: 31.8%
Seeking professional mental health support: 22.4%
The survey paints a picture of a workforce that selfregulates emotional pain through creative expression, movement, peer support, and private ritual For some, these outlets are sustaining but for others, they are simply a means to endure and continue the work.
“I sought private therapy at great financial cost. ” Anonymous Survey Respondent
But individual coping, no matter how effective, is no substitute for institutional care and support The gap between what journalists do for themselves and what newsrooms fail to provide is at the core of this crisis
Roughly one-third (32.9%) of respondents said their newsroom provided no mental health resources or information at all Among those who did have access to something, it was often limited, poorly communicated, or underutilized. The breakdown includes:
Percentage of respondents who had access to:
mentalhealthdays
counselingservices
peersupportprograms
trauma-informedtraining
debriefingsessions
nomentalhealthresources
Still, 24.7% of respondents said the resources they did have were not helpful at all, or that none were offered. This isn’t just a matter of quantity; it’s about quality, access, and cultural safety.
Whether through silence, stigma, or sheer absence, journalists are being asked to do emotionally dangerous work with no system of repair.
“I've worked in various newsrooms and I wish that there were more emphasis on mental wellness. If I raised it, it could’ve brought raised eyebrows. ” —
Anonymous Survey Respondent
While institutional support is often lacking, peer care emerges as a major lifeline for journalists When asked to rate the presence of support on a scale from 1 to 5:
Peer support averaged 3.9
Support from supervisors averaged 3.7
Many respondents described close colleagues as their primary and sometimes only source of understanding This form of mutual care is critical, but it also has limits In under-resourced environments, peer support becomes a kind of emotional triage carried out by people who are also wounded
“Peer support is about as good as it gets, realistically. ” Anonymous Survey Respondent
To add to this, one journalism focus group participant from our study, The Ripple Effect, reflected on covering the killing of Mike Brown in Ferguson, sharing how the assignment demanded more than just reporting, it required making clear to the community that they weren’t there to parachute in, extract pain, and leave. Trust wasn’t assumed; it had to be earned in real time.
“I was in Ferguson...and one of his homeboys, clearly drunk, comes out and is like, ‘Yeah man, put your hands up for Mike Brown. ’ And I’m like, I don’t do all that. I’m here to do what I do... But really what he was doing—and I understand it— he was looking for allegiance. Like, whose side are you on?” Trymaine Lee
This moment reveals the layered weight that Black and directly-impacted journalists often carry. They are personally impacted by the very systems they are assigned to cover They carry the responsibility of entering communities that are reeling from violence, while working for institutions that those communities often do not trust and that offer little support to journalists Walking into a neighborhood after a police killing is not just about gathering quotes, it means navigating grief, suspicion, and a
long history of extraction. Journalists in these positions are not only storytellers, they are bridges, holding the tension between institutional harm and community care, all while managing their own emotional fallout Most newsrooms are not built to hold that complexity, and few offer support for the toll it takes
Respondents were clear: self-care and peer support is not enough They identified a wide range of interventions that should be built into the profession itself, not offered as optional extras
Resources that were rated extremely or very important included:
Access to external mental health professionals: 84.9%
Trauma-informed reporting training: 84.9%
Mental health days: 86.3%
Peer support programs: 78%
Workshops on mental health and resilience: 83.6%
Regular debriefing sessions: 80.8%
In open responses, journalists called for clear protocols and protections, not platitudes. Their recommendations included:
Mandatory post-assignment debriefs
Time off following crisis coverage
On-call counseling services
Managerial training on trauma and mental health
Structural onboarding that includes emotional preparedness
“I wish managers would mandate a conversation with a professional counselor after a traumatic event. And give the journalist a little time off to process. ” — Anonymous Survey Respondent
This is not a workforce in denial or oblivious to its shortcomings; it is a workforce deeply aware of what’s wrong, and in need of something better
This study, The Ripple Effect, began with a simple, but urgent question: What happens when the media covers traumatic events without care?
Across nearly a dozen interviews and focus groups with journalists, media professionals, grassroots organizers, and directly impacted community members, this study set out to understand how stories of racialized and gender-based violence are told, and what it costs when they’re told without accountability
We spoke to people who have risked their safety to tell the truth, who have been misquoted and erased, who have had their grief turned into clickbait. We also spoke to journalists who carry the weight of their own trauma while trying to do the work ethically in institutions that rarely support them. Many of these individuals exist in both worlds: they are both chroniclers and survivors, both sources and scribes, navigating what it means to report from inside the very crises they’re documenting These interviews were not just about gathering data, they were about bearing witness to harm, to resistance, to the tension between visibility and vulnerability. The people we interviewed offered more than insights; they offered stories, lessons, warnings, and blueprints. They showed us where journalism has failed, and they also showed us what’s possible when it’s done with care, context, and a commitment to truth that does not sacrifice the people at its center
What follows are the key themes that emerged across these conversations, grounded in lived experience and shaped by those doing the work.
Across nearly every interview and focus group, participants named the media not just as a neutral conveyor of information, but as an actor in systems of harm Particularly when it comes to coverage of racialized and gender-based violence, participants identified that journalism can function as:
An extractor: entering communities in moments of crisis to "get the story, " then leaving without accountability
A legitimizer (co-signer) of state power: often defaulting to police, government, or institutional narratives as the “objective” truth
A retraumatizer: forcing survivors and directly impacted people to relive painful experiences without care or context
“You want to share your story to change the world. But you don’t want to share it so people can further harm you… It’s not about getting people to cry or doing trauma porn. I don’t want to be tokenized. ” — Bridgette Simpson, Community Leader and Directly Impacted Community Member
5
“For a lot of journalists who reached out to me or who reached out to others about me, I was not a human being. I wasn’t a person going through an actual experience I was a headline to be covered. It didn’t matter what they said in their reporting, it just had to be sensational. ” Anonymous Interviewee, Directly Impacted Community Member
“I’ve seen the image of the completely wrong person in a story. I’ve seen quotes taken out of context. And I’ve seen copy-paste questions that treat our stories like templates instead of people. It’s basic, but it still happens. And it causes harm. ” Anonymous Media Advocacy Leader, Focus Group #2
5 All named participants provided informed consent to be identified in this report Each individual reviewed and approved the use of their name and direct quotations prior to publication Their decision to be named reflects their desire to claim ownership of their stories and contribute to the public record
Wespoketopeoplewhohave riskedtheirsafetytotellthetruth, whohavebeenmisquotedand erased,whohavehadtheirgrief turnedintoclickbait.Wealsospoke tojournalistswhocarrytheweight oftheirowntraumawhiletryingto dotheworkethicallyininstitutions thatrarelysupportthem.
A critical finding: Many journalists, particularly Black journalists and those from marginalized backgrounds, do not stand outside of the trauma they report on. As identified by participants, they are:
Bearing witness to harm that could easily befall them or their families
Navigating their own trauma while reporting on others’ trauma
Balancing their professional role with a personal stake and community accountability
This reality creates a unique burden: being responsible for telling the truth, often without institutional support, while also holding personal grief and identity in the work
Several journalists described the experience as isolating, emotionally taxing, and spiritually disorienting, but also necessary and sacred.
“Even as a journalist who is to be impartial… you can also be directly impacted yourself by the sheer gruesomeness of the violence. Knowing that the people whose stories you're trying to tell could very well be your family members. Could very well be you. ” — Aaron Morrison, Journalist
“Newsrooms still couldn’t figure out a way to send you into the fire and then take care of you when you came out. And they certainly weren’t going to do that if you were a Black journalist covering police violence or white supremacist attacks. ” Anonymous, Journalist
“I think we’re at a time now where we can be honest about the trauma the psychic trauma that we experience through repeated exposure to violence. Just because we have calloused skin doesn’t mean it’s not penetrating our skin. ”
— Trymaine Lee, Journalist
“I'm not scared to go where my people are. But it does something to you when you’re looking in the eyes of someone who just lost their child and you’re supposed to ask for a quote. ” Trymaine Lee, Journalist
While the harm of extractive journalism is clear, many participants also noted a slow but promising shift toward more trauma-informed approaches As identified by participants, key elements of this evolution include:
Consent as practice: Giving participants advance questions, avoiding surprise trauma dumps, and respecting when people say “no ” Context over clickbait: Prioritizing root causes, historical framing, and systemic context instead of sensationalist headlines. Leaving behind the, “If it bleeds, it leads” mentality. Rehumanization: Centering impacted people as full humans, not just symbols or statistics
“There’s a difference between a journalist and a reporter. A journalist seeks to understand. ” Bridgette Simpson, Community Leader and Directly Impacted Community Member
“Some reporters now actually ask: ‘Is there anything you don’t want to talk about?’ That didn’t happen ten years ago. ” Brittany Ferrell, Community Leader and Directly Impacted Community Member
Even for those committed to ethical reporting, the newsroom itself can be a barrier. Many journalists and advocates described internal struggles with editors and executives who:
Prioritize speed over sensitivity
Rely on outdated notions of objectivity
Undervalue community trust-building
“I’ve been overruled so many times by editors who want something more sensational. It hurts when you know the story deserves better. ”
Journalist, Focus Group #1
“A lot of times my conversations with my editors... their interest is in speed. If I’m waiting on a specific character for a story, they’re pushing to publish without that voice. I’m advocating for it. It becomes a negotiation. ”
Journalist, Focus Group #1
“There’s just stuff that the editor might want you to do that you can’t do. One time I had to door knock not even 24 hours after a cop killed someone. And then my editor was like, ‘Wait… do you know that was him?’” — Journalist, Focus Group #1
This tension often leaves journalists, particularly Black, Brown, women, and queer journalists, choosing between doing the work “right” and doing the work in a way their institutions will approve, publish, or promote
Community feedback, especially from those directly impacted by violence, was described as one of the most powerful metrics of ethical journalism. When survivors, organizers, or families say: “You got it right, ” that holds far more weight than analytics.
Several directly-impacted participants named what ethical reporting looks and feels like:
Journalists come back after the crisis They build relationships long before the story They center healing, not just the harm
“You didn’t just come for the trauma. You came to understand. That’s the difference. ” Bridgette Simpson, Community Leader and Directly Impacted Community Member
“We don’t want reporters who drop in with a camera and leave. We want journalists who are part of the community. ” — Media Advocacy Leader, Focus Group #2
“The material effects of this kind of coverage are violence. The loss of jobs. The loss of individual reputations. Journalists have colluded with institutions private, state, and university to shape narratives that protect power and destroy dissent. ”
— Anonymous Interviewee, Directly Impacted Community Member
Telling the truth, especially about racialized or genderbased violence, is not without risk Participants shared stories of retaliation, career consequences, or emotional collapse for simply telling their truth
This is particularly true for those who are both directly impacted and public-facing:
Organizers misquoted or misrepresented Journalists blacklisted or silenced Students or advocates profiled and targeted online
“I stopped speaking to journalists because I realized they didn’t care about me. They cared about the headline. ” Anonymous Interviewee, Directly Impacted Community Member
There is widespread agreement across the data that trauma-informed journalism must be institutionalized. It is not optional. The demand is clear:
Develop a trauma-informed reporting certification rooted in community input
Implement newsroom-wide policies that guide coverage of systemic violence
Embed mental health support for journalists, especially those covering traumatic beats
Prioritize diverse hiring and editorial power-sharing
“I do think [trauma-informed training] has to happen both at the emergent, incoming level and also the professionalized level… If we’re only training incoming journalists, then we’re not figuring out how to shift that into our culture. ” Anonymous Interviewee, Media Advocacy Leader
“Journalism has a history of not trusting people, but expecting people to trust them. That skepticism is built into the profession. Until we shift how journalists are trained and what they’re rewarded for, that mistrust will stay. ” — Anonymous Interviewee, Media Advocacy Leader
This is not just a call for better behavior, it’s a call for structural transformation in how journalism understands its role, its reach, and its responsibility
Intersecting Harms, Unequal Responsibilities
The Emotional Toll on Journalists
Community Labor Trust is not Assumed, It’s Withheld
When Trauma Isn’t Named, Harm Echoes
The Data Exposes the Mechanics of Narrative Power
What becomes clear when we treat the emotional toll of storytelling and the impact of having your story told as two parts of the same system? By placing these two studies in direct conversation a national survey of journalists and media professionals, and qualitative interviews and focus groups with journalists, organizers, survivors, and media advocates we do not just see parallel experiences We see intersecting harms and distinct responsibilities within a fractured system that asks for vulnerability from all sides while offering little in return.
This analysis builds on measurable patterns (levels of stress, institutional support, and coping strategies from the survey) and deepens them through narrative accounts from people who are often expected to hold both personal pain and professional duty Together, the findings dismantle the binary between journalist and subject, and they also underscore that these roles are not interchangeable While both groups experience harm, journalists carry a unique responsibility and power within this system, and that power comes with its own burdens.
According to the Take Care survey, 79.4% of journalists reported mild to moderate stress, 74.1% reported anxiety, and 75.3% had never accessed professional mental health support. One journalist wrote, "I don't trust my newsroom to hold space for what I'm carrying. "
These findings align with an anonymous media advocacy leader’s critique of newsroom culture, clearly describing an industry that often resists collective care or relational accountability An anonymous interviewee, a student organizer from a directly impacted community, described preparing for interviews as a form of harm reduction, expecting to be misquoted or flattened. For Bridgette Simpson, another interviewee from a directly impacted community, the emotional cost of media appearances as a survivor and formerly incarcerated woman is compounded by how often her humanity is erased in favor of a "story "
Brittany Ferrell, an interviewee and community member from Ferguson who participated in the focus group with impacted people, shared how journalists disregarded her firsthand account of police violence to preserve a false image of order, a moment of silencing disguised as balance or neutrality
Trymaine Lee, a journalist interviewee, reflecting on his experience covering Mike Brown’s death, spoke of the responsibility to not just report but to be present with integrity He described the need to actively reject the assumption that he was there to extract. His role as a Black journalist demanded more, not just from the community, but from himself.
Journalists, particularly those from impacted communities, face pressure from both directions: institutional neglect on one side, and community scrutiny on the other Still, they carry influence and platform, a role that comes with accountability As these findings reveal, care must extend to them, but so must responsibility for the impact of their work
While journalists face pressure to tell stories ethically, community members live with the emotional, social, and sometimes physical consequences of those stories long after publication The labor of managing trauma, anticipating harm, and protecting one's dignity often falls squarely on those most impacted. An anonymous media advocacy leader described how their community has learned to protect itself in anticipation of media harm, a constant calculation of what to share, how to say it, and what fallout might follow
An anonymous interviewee from a directly impacted community recalled anxiety that lingered long after the publication of a piece he participated
in. This unease wasn't rooted in the content of the story alone, but in the lack of follow-up, the uncertainty of audience response, and the knowledge that his vulnerability had entered the public domain without clear boundaries
Bridgette Simpson, an organizer from a directly impacted community, noted that while her story was published, shared, and circulated, she was never contacted again. Her experience reflects a common refrain: that extractive practices often leave participants feeling forgotten or disposable once a journalist’s deadline has passed.
In the focus group with media advocacy leaders, one participant put it bluntly: "We spend more time explaining our pain than being asked what we need " Care, when it comes, often flows from community members to journalists, not the other way around This reversal of roles where the storytellers, not the story seekers, provide the emotional labor is both unsustainable and, according to many directly impacted community members, unjust.
That imbalance is a critical part of what these findings surface Harm may be experienced on both sides, but power, visibility, and responsibility are not equally distributed Communities are not only narrating their pain, they are also absorbing the consequences of how it’s framed, where it travels, and who gets to benefit. Recognizing community labor as expertise, not just emotional offering, is essential to any movement toward equity in storytelling.
75% Had NeverAccessed MEntal HEalth Support
According to the Take Care survey, 79.4% of journalists reported mild to moderate stress, 74.1% reported anxiety, and 75.3% had never accessed professional mental health support
The concept of trust surfaced repeatedly, but with very different textures across data sets. Journalists in the survey described being afraid to pitch certain stories, softening language, or avoiding personal disclosure due to fear of being seen as biased. In interviews, journalists Aaron Morrison and Trymaine Lee both spoke to the way their identities shaped how their work was perceived, as if being Black and being credible were in tension They shared the challenge of balancing their responsibility to tell difficult truths with the added burden of having to prove their objectivity and professionalism in predominantly white institutions
Interviewees from directly impacted communities shared their perspective from the other side: Bridgette Simpson described journalists expecting vulnerability without reciprocity. An anonymous media advocacy leader emphasized that trust must be earned continuously In the focus group with community members, Brittany Ferrell, an interviewee from a directly impacted community, noted that the media seemed more interested in shaping a narrative than holding the truth. She spoke to the emotional aftermath: once a story was published, she was left to deal with the ripple effects in her personal life, clarifying or defending aspects of her experience that were edited or misrepresented
Participants emphasized that trust is not something automatically extended to journalists, especially by communities that have experienced legacy harm through media narratives. Instead, it is withheld, protected, and negotiated based on a long history of misrepresentation, invisibility, and extraction. For these communities, trust must be earned through relationship, respect, and accountability.
These moments show that while journalists navigate institutional pressure, communities are navigating legacy harm That difference matters Where a journalist may fear editorial pushback or professional risk, community members fear being retraumatized, misquoted, or further marginalized The costs are not the same, and neither are the consequences
Blackjournalistssharedthe challengeofbalancingtheir responsibilitytotelldifficult truthswiththeaddedburden ofhavingtoprovetheir objectivityand professionalismin predominantlywhite institutions.
Trust is not broken evenly. It is harder to rebuild for those who were never believed in the first place When mistrust is framed as a challenge to overcome rather than a reflection of past harm, we lose sight of what community members are actually communicating. Repairing trust requires more than access, it requires care, consistency, and a commitment to honoring the lived experiences of those whose stories are being told.
The survey found only 12.9% of respondents had trauma-informed training. Less than one in four had access to debriefing after a traumatic event. The absence of these resources is not just a gap, but a condition that allows harm to continue without accountability. When newsrooms do not prioritize trauma awareness, harm is not only overlooked, it becomes embedded in the way stories are gathered, told, and remembered.
For journalists, this means covering state violence, sexual assault, or protest without preparation or recovery Many described the emotional strain of listening to pain, witnessing suffering, or revisiting their own lived experiences without the support they needed to process or recover These experiences often linger long after the deadline has passed
Whentraumaisnot named,itisnotaddressed. Andwhenitisnot addressed,itcontinues.It repeatsitselfonthepage, inthefield,andinthe body.
It is a tool that frames how reality is understood. It determines what counts as news, whose voices matter, whose experiences are taken seriously, and what solutions the public is allowed to imagine. And it is not something that can be used responsibly without ongoing, accountable relationship to the people most affected by the stories being told. When journalists are disconnected from the communities they report on, even well-intentioned stories can cause harm.
These findings make one thing clear: while both journalists and communities are navigating emotional and institutional harm, the responsibility to shift that harm cannot be equally shared Journalists are not just workers, they are agents of narrative power and that power carries real consequences It shapes what the public sees, believes, and remembers, and it determines who is humanized and who is made invisible It influences what becomes common sense and what gets dismissed Narrative power is not neutral, it is a tool that either maintains the current systems of harm or helps build the conditions for justice. And that power carries responsibility.
Narrative power is the ability to frame how reality is understood It determines what counts as news, whose voices matter, whose experiences are taken seriously, and what solutions the public is allowed to imagine It operates in headlines, in images in the language used to describe harm an not just the telling of stories, it is th meaning. Narrative power sets the debate and public policy, and it def be seen as a victim, who gets blam believed
What narrative power is not: it is no professional access It is not somet through awards or institutional cred something that can be used respon ongoing, accountable relationship t affected by the stories being told. W disconnected from the communitie even well-intentioned stories can c trust and accountability, narrative p extractive It can deepen harm, eve expose it
In this moment of rising violence, re disinformation, narrative power is n central. Journalists are not outside part of it. Their choices shape how understood and how harm is remem power can reinforce fear or help co
toward freedom. It can reproduce the language of institutions or lift up the wisdom of survivors. It can flatten resistance or show the full complexity of what it means to fight and survive
To wield narrative power ethically means recognizing its weight. It means moving with humility It means asking not just what is true, but what is just It means understanding that journalism is not only about telling stories, but about building the world we want to live in.
When institutions fail, their power can still cause damage Communities, in contrast, often have no such power They are asked to perform their pain for public view, with little say over how it is framed, circulated, or corrected
Journalists want care. Communities want dignity. Both want accountability. But care without accountability will not build trust, and exposure without protection will never lead to justice.
Trauma-informed journalism requires more than intention It requires a structural reimagining of who journalism is for who it is accountable to and how
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
For Newsrooms and Human Resources For Journalism Schools and Training Programs For Funders and Philanthropy For Public Trust Recommendations from a Licensed Mental Health Clinician What Our Communities Deserve
RThis section was developed in close collaboration with Peter Oduwole, MSEd, LPCC-S, a licensed clinical therapist who reviewed anonymized survey responses and transcripts from interviews and focus groups, as well as summary data generated during the analysis phase. Peter applied a clinical and critical lens to the findings, helping to ground the recommendations in both psychological insight and structural critique. His guidance helped ensure the ethical integrity of the analysis and the psychological soundness of the proposed recommendations.
These recommendations are not offered as standalone solutions Rather, they are intended to contribute to a broader vision of journalism that is healing-centered, structurally supported, and accountable to the well-being of those who do the work
The survey revealed that more than 75% of journalists who have covered traumatic events had never received professional mental health support Fewer than 13% had access to traumainformed training Respondents described feeling isolated, anxious, and unsupported by their managers These gaps are not oversights They are indicative of an institutional, systemic failure to acknowledge the emotional labor of journalism as legitimate, essential work.
Newsrooms must move beyond surface-level wellness initiatives and confront the structural conditions that actively produce harm. A culture that rewards stoicism, valorizes burnout, and silences vulnerability is not sustainable Shifting this culture means reckoning with outdated norms and actively investing in policies that center care, accountability, and long-term well-being
One of the most urgent recommendations to emerge from both the survey and qualitative interviews is the need for editorial power-sharing. Journalists working closest to impacted communities often have the clearest sense of what stories need to be told and how to tell them with dignity Yet editorial mandates driven by speed, sensationalism, and audience metrics often override their professional judgment and lived context This not only degrades the quality of reporting but also compounds psychological harm
Power-sharing between editors and reporters is not just a workflow adjustment, it is an ethical imperative. It acknowledges the expertise of frontline journalists and opens space for more humane, community-rooted storytelling When journalists are trusted to lead, the product is more accurate, more ethical, and ultimately more sustainable for all involved
These findings demand bold, systemic change in place of performative gestures. To build a truly healing-centered journalism field, organizations must reimagine their structures of decisionmaking, care, and accountability. The cost of inaction is not just emotional exhaustion, but the erosion of trust, truth, and the people who work to uphold them
Establish Rotating, Inclusive Editorial Boards. Develop rotating editorial boards composed of a diverse cross-section of senior editors and community-informed advisors These boards should be tasked with collective review of story selection, narrative framing, sourcing, and publishing decisions to ensure ethical, traumainformed, and equitable coverage.
Implement Story Pitch Sessions Centered on Community Engagement. Introduce regular story pitch sessions where reporters propose not only topics but also community engagement strategies, ethical considerations, and plans for follow-up Prioritize pitches that show an understanding of long-term community impact, especially for stories involving trauma, violence, or historically marginalized communities.
Create Culturally Responsive and TraumaInformed Editorial Standards. Revise editorial review protocols to embed care-based, culturally responsive criteria that prioritize the psychological safety of both reporters and the communities they cover Require clear justification whenever a reporter's recommendation is overruled during editorial review, especially when it relates to safety, harm reduction, or ethical sourcing.
Create a Tiered Trauma Assignment Protocol with Mandatory Support. Develop a tiered system for covering traumatic events that categorizes stories based on potential psychological risk High-impact or potentially retraumatizing assignments should automatically trigger structured supports, including mandatory rest time, optional reassignment, access to trauma-informed mental health professionals, and peer debriefing sessions.
Human resources departments must also be equipped to support trauma-exposed staff This requires an intentional shift toward embedding trauma-informed, equity-centered care across all levels of the organization Key supports should include access to external mental health professionals, structured time off following crisis
coverage, and regular, mandatory debriefing sessions that are culturally responsive and contextually grounded. These supports must not be framed as optional benefits but as essential components of workplace safety and sustainability
How to Sustain and Scale Implementation:
Contract with Culturally Competent Mental Health Providers. Partner with therapists and wellness practitioners who reflect the racial, cultural, and professional diversity of the newsroom. These providers should be available for confidential check-ins, crisis response, and trauma debriefing on a regular and as-needed basis
Offer Annual Mental Health Stipends. Offer annual stipends for all staff that can be used toward therapy, coaching, wellness retreats, or other forms of healing. Remove unnecessary administrative barriers to accessing this support and treat it as a reimbursable cost of labor.
Designate In-House Wellness Coordinators. Create a designated role or team to serve as wellness liaisons between staff and HR These coordinators can organize grounding practices (e g , journaling sessions, movement breaks, mindfulness) and maintain a directory of trusted resources.
Integrate Trauma-Informed Care Structures into Onboarding. Embed these care policies into onboarding materials, HR trainings, and staff manuals, making it clear from the start that psychological safety is a workplace priority Reinforce access to these supports during quarterly check-ins, performance reviews, and team reflections
Newsrooms must interrogate their own standards of practice, many of which are rooted in outdated notions of objectivity that equate professionalism with detachment and prioritize speed over depth These norms not only obscure bias but also open the door for capitalist pressures that often erode the integrity of reporting When speed and output are rewarded over reflection and accountability, journalism becomes more extractive than informative Care, accuracy, and community responsibility must be redefined as core professional standards.
How to Sustain and Scale Implementation:
Revise Newsroom Mission and Value Statements. Update organizational mission statements and core values to explicitly prioritize care, accuracy, equity, and accountability. These should be living documents that guide not just coverage, but also internal culture, decision-making, and community engagement
Host Quarterly Accountability Forums. Host regular spaces like public forums or listening sessions where journalists, editors, and community members can engage in mutual feedback on editorial standards, framing, and impact. This helps break down silos, builds trust, and reorients newsrooms toward relational accountability
Integrate Trauma-Informed Criteria into Performance Reviews. Expand performance evaluations to include metrics of relational accountability, ethical decision-making, cultural responsiveness, and care-based reporting practices. Recognize journalists who demonstrate integrity, reflection, and community-rooted reporting.
Of journalists who have covered traumatic events, fewer than 13% had access to trauma-informed training
Most journalism programs train students to report quickly, meet deadlines, and uphold technical and legal standards. Few programs teach future journalists how to navigate the emotional and ethical toll of covering traumatic events, or how to approach communities that have historically been harmed by the media As a result, emerging professionals are equipped to report under pressure, but not to process their own trauma or prevent harm in the communities they cover
The result of this disservice continues to lead to a generation of professionals who enter newsrooms without the tools to process their own trauma or engage sources in ways that minimize harm.
To build a truly trauma-informed field from the ground up, journalism education must expand what is considered “core” curriculum Students need rigorous instruction in trauma theory, emotional regulation, relational interviewing, and ethical community engagement. Clinical insight and community-rooted expertise must be seamlessly integrated, not only as electives or optional modules, but as foundational knowledge and skill acquisition.
Embed Trauma Theory and Care-Based Reporting into Core Courses. Redesign core reporting courses to include trauma theory, emotional-regulation techniques, secondary trauma education, and practical strategies for interviewing people in distress Stop positioning these as “soft skills, ” and regard them as essential, core journalistic competencies.
Co-Design Workshops with Mental Health Experts and Community. Partner with culturally responsive therapists, traumainformed practitioners, and grassroots organizers to co-create interactive workshops that help students understand how trauma lives in both the body and in community
Introduce Critical Courses on Journalism as a System of Power. Require course work that explores the history of journalism as a tool of colonialism, racial hierarchy, gender violence and class control These courses should interrogate how journalistic norms have historically contributed to harm, and invite students to imagine alternatives
Use Case Studies to Analyze Harm and Care in Reporting. Create case studies drawn from real coverage to evaluate harm and care across the reporting process. For example, compare traditional crime reporting with trauma-informed alternatives
Establish Trauma-Informed Field Practicum Requirements. Make trauma-informed practice a fieldwork and/or practicum requirement Students should be trained and evaluated on how they engage with sources, manage their own mental health, and navigate ethically complex stories, especially those involving violence, injustice, or grief.
Provide Embedded Counseling During HighStakes Projects. Offer embedded, confidential counseling or support sessions during capstone projects, investigations, or internships, especially in cases where students are covering traumatic events or vulnerable
communities. Normalize these supports as an integral part of professional development.
Funders shape the field of journalism as much as newsroom leaders What gets resourced, gets replicated When funding models prioritize speed, virality, and surface-level metrics, they incentivize harm, rewarding burnout and extractive storytelling while sidelining care, ethics, and community accountability. As echoed in our interviews, many journalists deeply committed to ethical, traumainformed reporting are forced to operate within timelines that make meaningful engagement impossible
Philanthropy holds both the power and the responsibility to shift this paradigm, especially as threats to journalism continue to rise under this current administration. By funding journalism through a trauma-informed and justice-centered lens, funders can build long-term capacity for structural change. This means investing not just in content, but in the conditions that make ethical reporting possible: mental health support, reflective practice, sustained community collaboration, and institutional care infrastructures
How to Sustain and Scale Implementation:
Require Trauma-Informed Planning in Grant Proposals. Ensure all grantees include traumainformed strategies in their proposals This should cover plans for ethical community engagement, built-in mental health support for staff, and postcoverage follow-up with sources and communities impacted by the reporting
Directly Fund Care Infrastructure. Dedicate funds for grantees to hire wellness consultants, embedded therapists, trauma-trained editors, and care facilitators. This infrastructure should be treated as essential to the success of the work
Build Flexibility into Funding Structure. Abandon rigid timelines, story quotas, or metrics tied to
clicks. Allow grantees to slow the pace of reporting when needed to prioritize care, depth, and community-informed practice. Build time for trust-building, reflection, and decompression into project timelines
Invest in Long-Term, Community-Rooted Projects. Move away from one-off grants for single stories or short-term deliverables Support long-form, multi-year projects that build trust and accountability between journalists and the communities they serve.
Fund Regional Care and Accountability Networks. Support the development of local and regional networks that bring together journalists, mental health professionals, organizers, and community members to cocreate new standards of care, accountability, and ethical storytelling
Reimagine Reporting Fellowships with Wellness and Justice Tracks. Expand journalism fellowships to include a dedicated wellness track, alongside editorial and career development Fellows should receive tools for navigating trauma exposure, practicing community accountability, and developing relational ethics in their work
The erosion of trust in journalism is not an abstract phenomenon It is the consequence of tangible, historic, and ongoing harm For Black, Indigenous, immigrant and working-class communities, media has long functioned as a weapon used to surveil, misrepresent, harm, and erase People notice whose voices get platformed, whose pain is sensationalized, who is criminalized, and who is made invisible. As many participants in this study made clear, distrust is not a misunderstanding It is a rational response to being repeatedly misused, misquoted, and misrepresented
Restoring public trust requires a radical shift in power Journalists and institutions must reimagine
how they engage with community, and shift their engagement from passively labeling people as sources, or “subjects” of reporting, and see them as partners in the narrative storytelling process That includes shifting who holds editorial decision making power, how consent is obtained, how stories are followed up, and how harm is repaired
How to Sustain and Scale Implementation:
Develop Community Accountability Protocols. Require structured follow-up with sources and communities after a story is published. This includes offering space for corrections, feedback, clarifications, or community reflections
Host Ongoing, Non-Extractive Listening
Sessions. Create recurring listening sessions in communities most impacted by racialized, gender-based, and state-sanctioned violence. These must not be extractive; community members should be compensated for their time and expertise, and their insights must be taken seriously in shaping newsroom practice
Create Public-Facing Transparency
Dashboards. Build interactive dashboards that track and share data on: which communities are being reported on, how frequently they are engaged, and what kind of follow-up or harmrepair is being conducted. This builds accountability and community news.
Form Community Advisory Boards with Real Editorial Input. Establish community advisory boards composed of impacted residents, organizers, cultural workers, and mental health practitioners that review and provide input on editorial decisions, especially for sensitive or high-stakes stories.
Establish Newsroom Roles Dedicated to Public Accountability. Create positions such as a community accountability editor or public engagement officer with real decision-making power These roles should be equipped and empowered to review coverage, address harm, and mediate between the newsroom and communities when issues arise
The Cost of the Story
Peter Oduwole, MSEd, LPCC-S, a licensed mental health clinician, reviewed anonymous transcripts and survey data, and identified two central concerns First, journalists' well-being continues to be treated as a personal issue rather than a structural imperative. Second, the dysregulation of journalists covering trauma compromises not only their health, but the clarity, accuracy, and ethics of the journalism itself. This is not just a workforce crisis, it is an ethical crisis
When nervous systems are dysregulated, journalists face a higher risk of burnout, reactivity, and impaired judgement. The result is harm: to themselves, to the people they report on, and to the public record. Trauma-informed care in journalism is not about comfort and making the work easier, it is about making it more effective, more accountable and more just.
Peter emphasized the need for clinical tools, such as narrative therapy, somatic grounding, and culturally rooted communal healing practices These practices should not be viewed as after-the-fact interventions; they must be integrated into the architecture of journalism itself, shaping how stories are pitched, pursued, and processed.
How to Sustain and Scale Implementation:
Embed Clinicians in Newsroom Workflow
Design. Hire trauma-informed clinicians to codesign editorial structures in newsrooms
Clinicians should be involved in: story pitch and assignment pacing, debriefing protocols, and meeting structures that reduce dysregulation These professionals should have a standing role, not a reactive one, and be involved in designing the structure of editorial meetings, debriefing protocols, and coverage pacing.
Build A Clinical Advisory Board. Create an advisory board composed of licensed clinicians, grassroots organizers, and journalists with lived experiences of trauma This board should meet
annually to evaluate newsroom care infrastructure, make recommendations, and assess psychological safety of current practices for journalists and the community at large.
Integrate Pre-Assignment Briefings and PostAssignment Decompressions. Standardize pre-assignment groundings and postassignment decompressions into the standard coverage cycle
Provide Clinical Training for Managers and Editors. Train newsroom leaders in trauma, emotional regulation, and supportive supervision techniques Editors and managers must be equipped with the language and tools to recognize distress and respond with accountability and support, not avoidance.
Subsidize Reflective Supervision and Clinical Coaching. Offer reporters who frequently cover traumatic stories access to reflective supervision or clinical coaching, either individually or in small peer groups These sessions would help prevent burnout, promote regulation, and deepen self-awareness.
Communities deserve more than reform; they deserve a journalism that is built with them, not merely about them. This requires a fundamental shift in practice and posture: consent, and collaboration must become the default, not the exception
As many participants described, harm does not end with the story’s publication. It lingers in the absence of followup, the disappearance of journalists, and the erasure of lived context. Ethical journalism must be defined not only by how stories are told, but by how relationships are tended after the fact Ongoing engagement, repair, and reciprocity must be treated as core professional responsibilities
How to Sustain and Scale Impleme
Develop A Care Agreement Fo interviews, especially with indiv agreement should clearly outlin options participants have for fe
Co-Create Story Timelines with timeline, framing, and goals of t the reporting process, rather th
Resource Healing-Centered Co practitioners to host healing con impact coverage These spaces the community doesn’t end at p
Fund Full-Time Community Lia relationships beyond the newsr pathways for feedback, correction, co creation, and harm repair They must be empowered to act, not just listen
This research offers a starting point, a blueprint shaped by journalists, clinicians, and community members alike. The implementation of these recommendations will require ongoing iteration, deep resourcing, and firm commitment to accountability.
The mandate is clear: journalism must be reimagined through the lens of collective care, structural responsibility, and narrative justice. Anything less continues the harm. Anything more moves us closer to a field that heals as it informs.
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
Perceived Importance and Institutional Provision M
Race and Ethnicity
Gaps in Representation
Disconnect Between
Despite the insights offered by both studies, several limitations exist These limitations point to important areas for future research and highlight the challenges of capturing the full complexity of trauma-informed journalism across diverse contexts and identities
A notable limitation of this study is the underrepresentation of racially diverse journalists in the quantitative survey sample While the qualitative phase intentionally centered the voices of Black and Brown journalists, organizers, and survivors many of whom come from historically resilient communities that have been systemically excluded from traditional research the survey data reflects a less representative demographic profile.
Specifically, 72% of respondents identified as white, 14% as Black, 7% as Latinx, 4% as Asian, and 1% as Indigenous. To recruit a broader range of participants, the research team conducted targeted outreach through social media blasts shared in BIPOC online affinity spaces, professional networks, and historically Black colleges and universities Despite these efforts, the final sample reveals ongoing challenges in achieving demographic equity in research participation. This imbalance limits the generalizability of findings, particularly around how journalists of color uniquely experience trauma, navigate institutional harm, and face ethical tensions in their reporting
Given the disproportionate emotional and professional burdens that journalists of color often carry, especially when covering stories that directly impact their own communities, this gap in representation is especially consequential As demonstrated in Study 2, Black and Brown journalists are frequently not separate from the stories they report; instead, they are embedded in the same systems of violence, surveillance, and erasure that shape the communities they come from. Their reporting often involves navigating grief, state violence, and historical trauma while working within institutions that have not been designed to support their full humanity Yet, traditional research methods often treat journalists as neutral observers or as a monolithic group, failing to account for how race, gender, and proximity to systemic harm shape both their emotional burden and their journalistic practice.
Future research should not only prioritize oversampling journalists from historically resilient communities, but also reimagine research design, outreach, and interpretation through frameworks that center their experiences, expertise, and labor. For instance, instead of relying solely on standardized surveys that reduce complexity, researchers should incorporate narrative-based methods such as story circles, testimonial interviews, or collaborative ethnographies that honor the emotional and cultural depth of participants’ experiences Outreach strategies must move beyond conventional professional networks to include grassroots media collectives, affinity-based journalist associations, and community-based storytelling spaces where trust and accountability already exist In terms of analysis, researchers should move away from deficit-based coding schemes rooted in institutional norms and instead
53%
of survey respondents
rated mental health days as “extremely important, ” only 25 9% reported having access to them
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
This research affirms what so many journalists, organizers, and survivors have long known The crisis facing journalism today is not only a financial or political one, it is a human one.
This research affirms what so many journalists, organizers, and survivors have long known. The crisis facing journalism today is not only a financial or political one, it is a human one. It is emotional, ethical, and structural This is not just about misinformation, layoffs, or partisan divide, it is about the deep disconnection between what journalism claims to be and what it actually does in people’s lives, especially when those people are grieving, resisting, or surviving violence.
At a time when the current administration is actively attacking both journalism as a profession and the communities most impacted by racialized and gender-based violence, this work is more urgent than ever These efforts to silence truthtelling and target vulnerable communities deepen the crisis and make clear that journalism cannot separate its survival from the well-being of the people it claims to serve.
Our data makes one thing incredibly clear: the field is not well Journalists are not okay and communities are not okay, and trust has been fractured not because people have stopped caring about the news, but because the news has so often failed to care about them Reporters carry trauma without support while communities navigate harm without acknowledgment of its origins or the conditions it creates. And stories that should be opportunities for connection and understanding too often become sites of retraumatization and extraction
This is not sustainable, it is not ethical, and most of all, it is not necessary. Journalism’s decline in relevance is deeply connected to the ethical failures outlined in this research. Communities have lost trust, often for good reason. Rebuilding that trust will require more than personal
relationships. People need to see that journalism can serve them and support their struggles, not just observe or extract from them Ethical, communitybased reporting can help build narrative power where it is most needed That work is mutually beneficial Journalism needs communities on its side not only to repair harm but also to survive
The urgency could not be clearer. Journalists are navigating chronic exposure to traumatic events, operating under institutional cultures that punish vulnerability and reward urgency Communities are left with the aftermath, carrying the emotional and social cost of stories that flatten, misquote, and misrepresent their experiences What our findings show is not just a need for better tools or more training They show a need for transformation
But this report is not only about what is broken. It is about what is possible.
Across interviews, focus groups, and open responses, people named what they needed They did not ask for perfection They asked for honesty, for relationships, and for journalism that does not come in only when there is a crisis, and disappears when the story is filed They asked for journalism that is accountable to the people it reports on, that sits with discomfort, and that makes space for context. That does not mistake harm for urgency or silence for neutrality.
Healing-centered journalism is not a theory, it is a practice already in motion It is showing up in grassroots outlets that choose collaboration over extraction It is showing up in editors who ask their staff how they are doing before asking what they have filed. It is showing up in communities that create their own media when traditional outlets fail them. What we offer here is not an abstract vision. Page 0034
It is a map drawn from what people are already doing. What they are already surviving. What they are already imagining.
To truly take up this work, the field must reorient Journalism must ask itself hard questions Who is this for? What do we believe accountability looks like? How do we measure harm and how do we repair it? What does it mean to tell the truth without replicating violence? These are not philosophical exercises, they are survival questions. And they are editorial questions.
We believe journalism can be something else. Something better We believe it can be a site of collective truth-telling and public memory We believe it can hold power to account without harming the people who already live closest to that power We believe journalism can be rooted in care. It can make space for grief. It can invite communities not just to be seen, but to shape how they are seen.
It will take time and resources And it will take the humility to admit that the current standards have failed too many people for too long But if the industry is serious about survival not just economic survival, but moral survival it must be willing to change Not incrementally, but fundamentally
As one participant told us, “If news is really supposed to serve the people, then it should feel like something we can survive. Something we can trust Not something we have to protect ourselves from ”
That is the journalism we are moving toward Journalism that meets people where they are, not where the institution thinks they should be Journalism that is built in relationship, not extraction. Journalism that not only tells the truth, but practices it.
Philosophically and historically, news has always been about power: how it is shared, who shapes it, and how people come to understand the world around them
At its best, news is a tool for collective memory and public accountability. But news has also been used
Iftheindustryisserious aboutsurvival—notjust economicsurvival,but moralsurvival—itmustbe willingtochange.Not incrementally,but fundamentally.
to uphold systems of control Throughout history, it has served colonial powers, propped up industries, and protected the interests of those in charge. It has told stories that erase distort or ignore entire
T h e C o s t o f t h e S t o r y
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Black Alder Labs works across social movements, vulnerable communities and industries to create narrative interventions resulting in impactful, sustainable and measurable change We use our resources, expertise and creative skills to address core challenges facing social movements The lab develops innovative new tools and expands existing practices to build more narrative, social and cultural power Black Alder Labs promotes progressive narrative change, deepens the bench of trained communications, narrative and cultural strategists working inside of progressive movements, advances media justice and much more.