UW Journalism, trauma center will be first of its kind in United States

The University of Washington School of Communications is creating a Center for Journalism and Trauma, the first of its kind in the country.

The center, supported by a grant from the Dart Foundation, will study news coverage of violence; develop educational resources for use in journalism schools and news organizations; disseminate research and information about trauma issues; and encourage industrial and educational attention to the effects of violence on news subjects and journalists.

"Through anecdotes, we know that reporters suffer the same kinds of trauma that police officers, firefighters and survivors of violence suffer," says Roger Simpson, associate professor of communications and director of the center. "But no one has gathered systematic evidence about this."

Simpson has been director of the school's Journalism and Trauma Program since 1994. Every advanced journalism student at the UW is trained in the effects of trauma on reporters who cover violence. "The truth is, there's very little research on the psychological effects on journalists of witnessing trauma. That's one of the issues the center will address, as well as case studies of both the constructive and destructive ways media cover violence.

The center intends to act as a resource center for students, journalists and news organizations seeking information about victim and trauma issues. The center also will develop models for trauma training to be used in journalism classrooms and within news organizations. The center's Web site, http://www.dartcenter.org, will offer case studies, new research findings and a newsletter.

The Dart Foundation will provide funding of $200,000 a year for three years, plus an additional two years of support at a minimum of $100,000 a year.

"By establishing the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma in Seattle, the Dart Foundation intends an interdisciplinary, international network of educators, researchers and journalists who will promote respect for victims of catastrophe and cruelty," says Frank M. Ochberg, representative of the Mason, Mich., foundation. ¶

Bob Roseth, News & Information