FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2015 Ethics Summit, hosted by the Center for Ethics in Journalism, will focus on the personal and professional challenges faced by journalists reporting traumatic events.
The event titled “Take Care of Yourself: an introduction to journalism, trauma and the workplace” will begin at 9.30 a.m. Oct 27 in the Arkansas Union, room 507.
The panel aims to better explain what trauma is and how exposure to traumatic events, such as plane and car crashes, natural disasters and crimes, can affect reporters or the subjects of their stories.
A majority of people experience a traumatic event at some point in their lifetime, said Matthew Feldner, professor of psychology and 2015 ethics summit panelist.
“Most people react to traumatic events with symptoms that resemble posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, such as having unwanted thoughts about the event or feeling jumpy,” Feldner said.
“However, these symptoms gradually go away for most people,” Feldner said, “it is those people whose symptoms don’t remit that are diagnosed with PTSD.”
The panel will provide students with methods for identifying trauma symptoms and how they can improve their emotional care.
“It’s not too early for students to start thinking about taking care of themselves and their peers in the newsroom,” said David Handschuh, the 2015 visiting distinguished professor of ethics.
“This is an issue that impacts all disciplines and workplaces,” said April Rand, social work professor and 2015 ethics summit panelist.
“I would like students to identify positive strategies for self-care early on in their professional career,” Rand said of her goals as a panelist.
The panel will also recommend ways for reporters to understand and improve interviewing survivors of trauma.
“I would like students to understand how to interview survivors with care and sensitivity,” Rand said.
The panelists will include Handschuh, Rand, Feldner and Erica Gamboa, director of Veterans resources on campus. Robin Starling-Ledbetter, a UATV faculty sponsor, will moderate the summit.
The summit is open to the public, and attendees can rsvp or learn more information by visiting the Ethics Summit Facebook Event.