The Impact of Graphic Imagery w/ Heather Martin

As she prepares to mark 25 years since the mass shooting at her high school that made headlines around the world, Heather Martin speaks with Tamara about the impact the media had on her in the immediate aftermath of the Columbine High School shooting, and for several years that followed.

Tamara asks Heather for her reaction to The Washington Post’s decision to publish graphic imagery from the immediate aftermath of various mass shootings.

Heather speaks specifically about the impact of the media on physically uninjured survivors, the control (or lack thereof) that victims and survivors have over the way their stories are collected and shared, and the opportunity journalists have to help survivors with their post-traumatic growth.

Resources:

therebelsproject.org

As per trauma-informed practice, each guest in The Trauma Beat podcast is afforded the opportunity to review and veto a list of anticipated questions before the recorded conversation. Ongoing, informed consent is sought throughout the production process.

This conversation was recorded in March 2024.

For more trauma-informed journalism resources, visit pickupcommunications.com.