What We Do

Physical violence and psychological trauma are part of the daily currency of journalism. In situations as diverse as war, traffic accidents, murder trials and child abuse, news people deal with victims, perpetrators and innocent bystanders. Sometimes, violence is directed against the journalists themselves.

 

Despite the drama surrounding war zone coverage, the great majority of journalists killed in the line of duty worldwide die in domestic situations. Many are killed because of what they inquire into and write about. The price of democracy is high. Journalists sometimes pay a high emotional price as well. Time was when newsroom culture held that journalists, as observers rather than participants, should be immune to the toll of this kind of immersion. Those who knew they weren’t often kept it to themselves – for fear of jeopardizing their standing in the newsroom or even their careers.

Journalists have no shortage of ethical issues to confront in reporting on victims, violence and trauma. Editors, producers, reporters and photographers seek to balance the public’s need for accurate, unflinching reporting against the possibility of inflicting harm. At the same time, it has never been more dangerous to be a journalist. According to the International News Safety Institute (INSI), 116 journalists and media workers were killed in 2023 - and 21 so far in 2024..

 

OUR MISSION

The Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma keeps a Canadian spotlight on these issues, in all their complexity. It holds workshops and conferences and works to enhance awareness and provide support material to facilitate discussion with employers, unions, other journalistic organizations, health professionals and journalism educators across the country. The Forum also fosters research and the exploration of a range of ethical issues linked with covering violent and traumatic events. It helps individual Canadian journalists facing difficulties find the help they need and to appreciate that they are not alone.