Submission declined on 17 December 2025 by Monkeysmashingkeyboards (talk). This draft reads like an essay or opinion piece. Wikipedia is not a place for original research or personal opinions. The draft should: summarize secondary sources: do not offer your own analysis or arguments; be written from a neutral point of view: represent the subject without bias, avoiding praise, criticism, or persuasive or promotional language; not contain original research: do not include new theories, unpublished ideas, or personal experiences. Instead, only summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject. If you would like to continue working on the submission, click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. If you have not resolved the issues listed above, your draft will be declined again and potentially deleted. If you need extra help, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. Please do not remove reviewer comments or this notice until the submission is accepted. Where to get help If you need help editing or submitting your draft, please ask us a question at the AfC Help Desk or get live help from experienced editors. These venues are only for help with editing and the submission process, not to get reviews. If you need feedback on your draft, or if the review is taking a lot of time, you can try asking for help on the talk page of a relevant WikiProject. Some WikiProjects are more active than others so a speedy reply is not guaranteed. How to improve a draft Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia – a basic overview on how to edit Wikipedia. Help:Wikitext – how to use the markup Help:Referencing for beginners – how to include references Wikipedia:Article development – how to develop your article Wikipedia:Writing better articles – how to improve your article Wikipedia:Verifiability – make sure your article includes reliable third-party sources You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Add tags to your draft Editor resources Easy tools: Citation bot (help) | Advanced: Fix bare URLs Declined by Monkeysmashingkeyboards 5 months ago. Last edited by Headbomb 4 months ago. Reviewer: Inform author. Resubmit Please note that if the issues are not fixed, the draft will be declined again.

• Comment: Sources are there, but this reads like an essay
  ("trauma-informed journalism" is the primary topic of 3 of the sources, but those articles kinda read like keyword or buzzword SEO bait - that's just my opinion, though. If there are better sources that'd be good but the sources right now are fine) monkey_smashing^keyboards (talk) 17:50, 17 December 2025 (UTC)

Trauma-informed journalism is a methodological and ethical approach to reporting that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals and communities, and seeks to minimize harm while ensuring accurate, humane coverage.^[1] This approach borrows principles from trauma-informed care used in medicine such as safety, transparency, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. The approach applies these principles within journalistic interviewing, sourcing and newsroom practices.”^[2] Trauma-informed journalism emphasizes extensive pre-reporting research, preparing interviewees, empathy, obtaining informed consent, avoiding re-traumatization and considering the emotional and mental health effects of reporting on both the source and the journalist.^[3][4]

The campaign for trauma-aware journalism originates in 1991, when Frank Ochberg M.D. collaborated with journalism staff at Michigan State University, the Michigan Victim alliance, and funding from the Dart Foundation of Mason, Michigan. The psychiatrist and pioneer in the treatment of traumatic stress worked with his collaborators to establish a small program that work to assist journalism students in reporting on victims of violence with dignity and sensitivity.^[5]

The Dart Foundation went on to create the annual Dart Award for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma, which was initially distributed by Michigan State University. In 1999, the Dart Foundation established the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at the University of Washington Department of Communications before relocating to the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 2009.^[6][5]

The Dart Center worked to improve the quality of reporting on trauma and to raise awareness in newsroom on the mental impact of reporting on trauma for journalists and sources.^[7] The Dart Center hosted hundreds of journalists and documentary film fellows, trained journalist and newsroom managers, provided resources, most notably sponsored workshops and public programs until its closure in July 2025.^[5] The Global Center for Journalism and Trauma was established to carry on the Dart Center's mission.^[5]

A large aspect of trauma-informed journalist is minimizing harm and re-traumatization while interviewing. Re-living traumatic experience by giving detailed accounts can bring back states of bodily fear. Trauma-informed interviewing practices includes ensuring safety, giving control to the source whenever possible, reflecting what you hear back to the source and closure, making sure the source is okay after the interview.^[8]

An extensive resource for trauma-informed reporting and writing is the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma's (GCJT) Style Guide for Trauma-Informed Journalism. The guide provides best practices for reporting on topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder, collective trauma, mental health, gender-based violence, intergenerational trauma and mass shootings.^[9]

Another important aspect of trauma-aware journalism for the journalist to take care of themselves, as reporting on traumatic reports can create vicarious trauma. According to the GCJT's style guide, vicarious trauma is, "psychological changes resulting from cumulative, empathetic engagement with trauma survivors in a professional context."^{[9] [10]}Strategies for managing trauma as a journalist include, setting limits, talking with peers, compartmentalizing, considering professional therapy and making time for outside interests.^[11]

Trauma-informed journalism has received international recognition, with organizations such as the BBC, Reuters institute and UNESCO, developing newsroom guidelines for trauma-sensitive reporting.^[12][13][14]

Trauma-informed journalism has also gained academic recognition. Universities such as, University of Minnesota^[15], Boston University^[16]and University of Missouri^[17], offer a course on trauma-informed journalism.