Global Center for Journalism and Trauma

The Global Center for Journalism and Trauma (GCJT)[1] is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization devoted to advancing informed and ethical news coverage of violence, conflict and tragedy, and advocating for the mental health of journalists around the world confronting trauma, threat and other occupational risks. Through training programs, workshops, fellowships and research GCJT connects news organizations[2] and news professionals with trauma clinicians, researchers and other experts, GCJT defines best practices in reporting on survivors of violence and abuse, and is widely known both within the U.S. and internationally for pioneering programs addressing the psychological impact of trauma exposure, threat and abuse on news professionals.[3][4]

The Global Center continues work previously conducted by the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, which was founded in 1999[4] and had been a project of the Columbia Journalism School but was sunset by Columbia amid the university's confrontation with the Trump administration in 2025. GCJT was established that year as an independent nonprofit continuing with the same leadership team, programs and mission.[5] GCJT continues to collaborate closely with the Committee to Protect Journalists.[5]

GCJT's flagship programs include the Ochberg Fellowship, an annual seminar for journalists around the world whose alumni include numerous noted reporters including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Emmy Awards and other honors.[6][7][8][9][10] The fellowship is named for psychiatrist Frank Ochberg M.D., a key figure in the development of PTSD diagnosis and treatment.[11]

The Global Center for Journalism and Trauma's director is Bruce Shapiro, a journalist, university educator, press freedom advocate and author.[12] Shapiro, a contributing editor at The Nation magazine[13] and US Correspondent for the Australian public radio program Late Night Live,[14] was the longtime director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University and taught journalism ethics at Columbia for over a decade. He is recipient of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Public Advocacy Award for "outstanding and fundamental contributions to advancing the social understanding of trauma.[15] GCJT's research director as of 2022 is Elana Newman of the University of Tulsa.[16]

Journalist Trauma Support Network

In 2021, the Journalist Trauma Support Network was created by the Dart Center in collaboration with The Committee to Protect Journalists.[17][18][19] It provides training for trauma psychotherapists seeking to provide specialized evidence-based treatment responsive to the unique needs of working journalists.[19] It is now a program of GCJT.[20][21] Within the United States, GCJT's newsroom training and psychosocial support programs for journalists were recognized in 2025 with a $1.25 million grant by Press Forward for support of local and nonprofit newsrooms.[22][23][24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Global Center for Journalism & Trauma". Global Center for Journalism & Trauma. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  2. ↑ Christie, Mike (February 19, 2026). "The Threat of a Broad Legal Assault by Government Against a News Organization — What Newsroom Leaders Need to Know". gijn.org. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  3. ↑ Elafropoulos, Dimitris (2025-10-09). "Reporting on Trauma Without Understanding It: Bruce Shapiro on Journalism's Blind Spot". Tovima. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  4. 1 2 Mondi, Chloe (2025-11-27). "Trauma Stalks Journalists Covering Disasters and Wars". DCReport. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  5. 1 2 Fu, Angela (November 17, 2025). "What Happened to the Dart Center at Columbia?". Poynter Institute. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  6. ↑ Rojo, Hugo (Oct 24, 2025). "AJC's Jeremy Redmon on 'Bending Without Breaking'". ajc. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  7. ↑ Stevens, Tadhg Hylier (October 14, 2019). "Beth Macy on the space between journalist and subject, and what comes after Dopesick". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  8. ↑ "Marquette University Diederich College of Communication announces 2025-26 O'Brien Fellows in Public Service Journalism". www.marquette.edu. May 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  9. ↑ "YSPH Dean's Lecture: "Fatally Flawed: Stories from the Frontlines of the Growing Disparity in Global Access to Medicines" by Stephanie Nolen, New York Times Global Health Reporter". ysph.yale.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  10. ↑ "Dave Cullen Takes on Columbine | USC Center for Health Journalism". centerforhealthjournalism.org. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  11. ↑ Fromm, M. Gerard (April 2014). "Interview with Frank Ochberg". Psychoanalytic Psychology. 31 (2): 206–216. doi:10.1037/a0036147. ISSN 1939-1331.
  12. ↑ Voutsina, Katerina (2025-11-24). "Recognizing and addressing burnout in the newsroom". iMEdD Lab. Retrieved 2026-03-30. For Shapiro, the stakes of burnout go beyond individual exhaustion. 'You want to pay attention because it can destroy a journalist's career, which I view not only as a personal tragedy for the journalists involved, but as a loss to press freedom. A journalist who is sidelined by psychological injury is silenced as effectively as if imprisoned,' he told iMEdD.
  13. ↑ "Bruce Shapiro". The Nation. 2010-04-02. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  14. ↑ "Bruce Shapiro's America". ABC listen. 2026-01-20. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  15. ↑ "2014 Leadership Awards". International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  16. ↑ Miller, Naseem S. (2022-04-13). "Trauma-informed journalism: What it is and why it's important + tips". The Journalist's Resource. Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  17. ↑ Aslam, Yasmeen (2022-06-21). "Missing, Murdered and the Media - The Review of Journalism". Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  18. ↑ Fernando, Christine (July 14, 2022). "This is America: Journalists are also struggling in the aftermath of mass shootings". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  19. 1 2 Castillo, Amaris (2021-08-19). "Why a small group of clinical psychologists is helping journalists with trauma". Poynter. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
  20. ↑ "Journalist Trauma Support Network". Journalist Trauma Support Network. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  21. ↑ Smith, Fran (February 17, 2026). "The Health Divide: Support grows for front-line reporters facing daily assaults on their mental health". USC Center for Health Journalism. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  22. ↑ Forward, Press (2025-07-16). "22 Projects Share $22.7 million to Meet the Urgent Challenges Facing Local Newsrooms". Press Forward. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  23. ↑ "Caring for journalists is at center of safety and mental health programs". Press Forward. 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  24. ↑ Owen, Laura Hazard (July 16, 2025). "Press Forward grants $22.7 million to 22 newsroom projects". Nieman Lab. Archived from the original on 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
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