Public Grief and the News Media

Paul R. Dolan

We live in a high speed information world. Every possible media source bombards us with news and noise, from unfiltered internet material to live helicopter images on cable news channels to highly polished and edited newspaper articles.

Our world has changed greatly in terms of how we get information, but one thing has not changed: at a time of tragedy, information can play a positive or corrosive role in coping with the immediate and long-term impact of the tragedy. Unfortunately, we have too many case studies to learn from: the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Washington, plane crashes, school shootings, suicide bombers, and war. 

On a smaller scale, but equally important, we need to learn as journalists, grief counselors, teachers, parents, and public officials about how to cope in an information age with teen suicides, kidnapping, murder, and other tragedies. 

At a time of tragedy and public and private grief, the role of the press and the conflicting needs of families and communities can create serious conflict. Families and victims may also have very conflicting feelings about wanting privacy and wanting to get the news media to focus on their loss. 

ROLE OF THE PRESS

According to the Radio Television News Director Association (RTNDA) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, professional electronic journalists should recognize that their first obligation is to the public. They should operate as trustees of the public, seek the truth, report it fairly and with integrity and independence, and stand accountable for their actions. Specifically, they should

• Understand that any commitment other than service to the public undermines trust and credibility 
• Reflect the diversity of the community and guard against oversimplification of issues and events
• Provide a full range of information to enable the public to make enlightened decisions 
• Fight to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public 

Like the U.S. media, the British Press also has Code, excerpted below: 

Privacy

Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health, and correspondence. A publication will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual's private life without consent. The use of long lens photography to take pictures of people in private places without their consent is unacceptable. (Note: Private places are public or private property where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.)

Harassment

Journalists and photographers must neither obtain nor seek to obtain information or pictures through intimidation, harassment, or persistent pursuit. They must not photograph individuals in private places without their consent; must not persist in telephoning, questioning, pursuing, or photographing individuals after having been asked to desist; must not remain on their property after having been asked to leave, and must not follow them. Editors must ensure that those working for them comply with these requirements and must not publish material from other sources which does not meet these requirements.

Intrusion into Grief or Shock

In cases involving personal grief or shock, inquiries must be carried out and approaches made with sympathy and discretion. Publication must be handled sensitively at such times but this should not be interpreted as restricting the right to report judicial proceedings. 

Children

Young people should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion. Journalists must not interview or photograph a child under the age of 16 on subjects involving the welfare of the child or any other child in the absence of or without the consent of a parent or other adult who is responsible for the children. Pupils must not be approached or photographed while at school without the permission of the school authorities.

Unfortunately, both in the United Kingdom and the United States media codes are often disregarded. They are nevertheless important to review and understand, particularly as they pertain to coverage of a public tragedy.

THE REALITY OF CRISIS AND TRAGEDY

A code of conduct is rarely consulted in the race to cover a news event. Increasingly, the public is also receiving unfiltered, unedited news coverage via national and regional 24-hour news channels. These channels have instant access to satellite news trucks and helicopters with live coverage camera capabilities. This instant coverage is a fact of life-a painful fact of life for families who may learn of a tragedy from live coverage.

The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center was seen live on television by millions, including family members of those trapped and who were desperate for information. Horrific images of people falling or jumping to their death flashed across the television screens. Live television does not allow the caution and discretion necessary. 

During the Trade Center tragedy there was an immediate effort in United States coverage to withhold the most horrific images. Most newspapers and television stations withheld footage and images of people leaping to their death. In Europe and other parts of the world, however, the coverage was far more graphic. 

Needs of Families and Survivors

Those assisting families at times of tragedy should do everything possible to help the families deal with media coverage. Designating a family or community spokesperson to answer press questions is one approach. Publicly asking for privacy and criticizing any inappropriate press activity are also possible actions. Families will be torn between wanting to know every possible bit of news to being overwhelmed by the pain of the news. 

The Public's Conflicting Needs

The public's response to tragedy is also very conflicting. People may have a genuine interest in reaching out to help families or they may be compelled to interject themselves out of morbid curiosity. The public wants extensive details and information about a crime or tragedy when often families and victims want privacy. The media is expected to answer all questions and provide extensive background. The public often indicates it does not like media prying or invasions or privacy, but in fact the public expect many details, including extensive personal details behind a tragedy.

The New York Times faced this dilemma with special sensitivity when, after the World Trade Center attack, it began to print a series of well-written, sensitive profiles of those who died. The Times' profiles quickly became a positive and healing contribution to families and also served to reflect the size and human face of the tragedy for the general public.

WHAT GRIEF COUNSELORS CAN DO

Along with their crucial role as mental health caregivers, counselors may be expected to serve as intermediaries between shocked and grieving survivors and families and a scrambling and invasive media. In any tragedy, grief counselors simply have to expect that media coverage will be an important part of the immediate aftershock. Following are a few steps counselors can take to ensure that media coverage does not exacerbate the grief and shock felt by survivors, families, and the larger community. 

• Protect the privacy of survivors and families. Counselors should insist that members of the media respect families' need for privacy.
• Provide support for families being inundated by images and information. No matter how painful the story, many families will not want any filtering of the news they receive, but they will need emotional and spiritual support.
• Take a role in planning and publicizing healing ceremonies and responses to tragedy, which can be an effective way to help the larger community cope with a public tragedy.
• Write articles or letters for newspapers and be interviewed on such topics as coping strategies, depression, and short- and long-term grief. 
• Help create special Internet sites with coping guidance created after a tragedy. The best approach may be to work with a local newspaper or TV station web site to get professional and accurate information on grief posted as soon as possible. 
• Respond quickly and thoroughly to editors and journalists seeking recommendations on how best to respond to very difficult situations like teen suicides in a community. 

The press generally, but not always, does not cover teen or youth suicide but may on occasion. Here journalists are often looking for opinions-do they cover multiple suicides or not cover? Does not covering a suicide help limit future suicides or contribute to an atmosphere of denial and ignorance? 

The press is a force capable of making a contribution or of creating greater stress at a time of crisis or tragedy. Counselors must be vocal about press responsibility. Acknowledge good reporting and do not refrain from criticizing the media when that is deserved. In a free society you will never be able to "manage" the media or expect you will agree with all of its actions, but never give up on trying to make it more responsive to the needs of families and individuals coping with tragedy. 

Paul Dolan is Executive Director, International and Cable Business, ABC News. He has also served as a volunteer on the planning and funding of pediatric and family bereavement programs by Calvary Hospital and the New York City Fire Department at Sterling Forest, New York.