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ISBN: 9781770416864

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The Trauma Beat

A Case for Re-Thinking the Business of Bad News

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A groundbreaking and thorough examination of the trauma caused by the media covering crimes, both to victims and journalists, from a respected journalist and victim advocate

In The Trauma Beat, an eye-opening combination of investigative journalism and memoir, former big-city crime reporter Tamara Cherry calls on her award-winning skills as a journalist to examine the impact of the media on trauma survivors and the impact of trauma on members of the media. As Tamara documents the experiences of those who were forced to suffer on the public stage, she is confronted by everything she got wrong on the crime beat.

Covering murders and traffic fatalities to sexual violence and mass violence, Cherry exposes a system set up to fail trauma survivors and journalists. Why do some families endure a swell of unwanted attention after the murder of a loved one, while others suffer from a lack of attention? What is it like to have a microphone shoved in your face seconds after escaping the latest mass shooting? What is the lasting impact on the reporter holding that microphone? The Trauma Beat explores these issues with the raw, reflective detail of a journalist moving from ignorance to understanding and shame to healing.

Contributors

Tamara Cherry

Tamara Cherry is a Regina-based award-winning journalist, trauma researcher, and media commentator who spent nearly 15 years reporting on crime in Canada’s biggest newsrooms. She is also the founder of Pickup Communications, a public relations firm that is changing the way trauma survivors interact with and are impacted by the media.

Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

Preview

In the introduction, journalist and former crime reporter Tamara Cherry describes how her life has been impacted by a career that revolves around traumatic events. Cherry discusses her decision … 6 $0.60

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In this chapter, Cherry examines the media coverage surrounding the death of constable William Hancox. Cherry includes excerpts from her interview with the widow of the deceased, who describes … 14 $1.40

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In this chapter, Cherry examines the limited, and sometimes non-existent media coverage of homicides in neighborhoods with low income and high crime rates. Cherry analyzes homicides ignored by … 18 $1.80

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses the sensationalizing of "uncommon stories", how the boundary-less reporting of these a-typical events traumatically impacts the surviving family … 12 $1.20

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses the psychological impacts of traumatic events and includes the responses of various survey participants who have lost loved ones to homicide or traffic … 15 $1.50

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In this chapter, Cherry explores the ethical issues surrounding crime scene photographs. Cherry reflects on her experiences as a reporter desperate to get the ‘body shot’, the high … 11 $1.10

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses the psychological impacts and ethical concerns of interviewing the family members of violent crime victims. Cherry explores varied responses to her survey: … 22 $2.20

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses the various aspects of a victim’s life that impact how their character is presented, and the tone in which their story is told. Cherry examines how race … 20 $2.00

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In this chapter, Cherry explores how colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism impact how the media reports on missing and murdered Indigenous wome. She offers a first hand account through her … 18 $1.80

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In this chapter, Cherry examines how the public and accidental nature of traffic fatalities impact the tone and intensity of the media coverage that surrounds it. Cherry includes the comments of … 13 $1.30

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses the fatal Humboldt Broncos car crash that occurred in 2018. She includes excerpts of her interview with Laurie, whose son was among the passengers that did not … 8 $0.80

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In this chapter, Cherry explores the complexities of publicizing human trafficking cases and reflects on her own experiences reporting these crimes. Cherry discusses the potential consequences of … 20 $2.00

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses how to be a trauma-informed reporter and the duties of a journalist in the context of reporting on cases that involve sexual assault. Cherry reflects on how the … 21 $2.10

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In this chapter, Cherry examines the ethical issues surrounding media coverage of mass shootings. Examining how the competitive and urgent nature of crime reporting leads to interviewing … 17 $1.70

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In this chapter, Cherry narrates her discussion with a fellow crime reporter. They discuss the psychological damage created by a career centred on violence and tragedy. They explore how this … 12 $1.20

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses the prevalence of "journalism trauma" among crime reporters. She interviews former colleagues and discusses her experience with PTSD (post-traumatic … 15 $1.50

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In this chapter, Cherry reflects on the concept of moral injury,the lack of emotional training and support for crime reporters, and how her life has been impacted by years of exposure to violence … 16 $1.60

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In this chapter, Cherry discusses mass shootings in the media. She examines the damage caused by interviewing survivors on the scene and the danger created by publicizing the identity of the … 20 $2.00

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In the epilogue to her book, Cherry reflects on the findings of her completed research project and how her experience writing this book impacted her mental health. Cherry offers a detailed list … 12 $1.20