TIME OUT: Tragedies & Journalists
Watching the media frenzy on the VT shootings, I'm disgusted on how many "professional" journalists bullied victims and their families into crying on camera. Not only that, but in the rush to be the first to report any bit of news, these "professionals" reported one-source stories from anonymous sources that ended up being false.
The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma offers several guides on covering tragedy, children and trauma, school shootings and interviewing victims.
Coincidentally, News University, a program sponsored by Poynter, is partnering with the Dart Center for an online class called "Journalism and Trauma." The online course is free to registered users of NewsU.