The reality, however, is that reporters and editors who understand the dynamics of victimization and trauma get better stories because more victims will talk with them and talk openly. News organizations often worry that raising victim concerns with their reporters and editors will make them less effective because they will hesitate or pull back from approaching and reporting on victims in trauma. With those realities in mind, reporters need to approach victims appropriately and sensitively. In the case of intimate crimes such as sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence, the resulting trauma is often complicated and amplified by numerous factors, ranging from the fear of being named in news accounts to the potential for self-blame to concerns about the stigma still associated with such crimes. Reporters also need to understand that trauma inflicts a toll even when there is no physical injury. The physical and emotional shock of victimization can literally leave victims “speechless” when trauma disrupts the normal blood flow to the speech centers of the brain. Victims often need time to recover from the initial shock of what has happened to them before they can accurately and fully report the facts and their feelings about them to others.
While individuals vary in their response to trauma, only a handful of victims are likely to be both composed enough and eager to speak to the media immediately after being victimized. Reporters need to understand the specific challenges that victims face in being the subject of an Act I story. Unless journalists exercise special care, the situation can become the proverbial recipe for disaster. Victims are often still in shock, unaware of the pitfalls of speaking and staying silent. Reporters are rushing to meet deadlines and struggling to get the facts of a story that may still be unfolding. Most of the complaints from victims about reporters involve Act I/breaking news stories. Reporter Guidelines for Act I (Breaking News) Stories Provide contact information for yourself or your editor
Recognize how trauma affects perceptions about time Make the person as comfortable as possible Ask for names of alternative spokespersons Giving the victim a reason to speak to you
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