A workshop for reporters, photographers and news managers on covering immigrants and refugees, with a special focus on mental health and related issues, sponsored by the Scattergood Foundation, will take place December 6-7, 2013.
Amid national debate over immigration reform, recent immigrants and refugees face a host of challenges in the U.S. Many have survived extreme traumas in their native countries, such as genocide or violent civil conflict, natural disaster, chronic community violence, poverty and human trafficking. Here, they may encounter discrimination in housing, education, employment, health care or in encounters with law enforcement, along with cultural and language barriers. Women and children often face particular challenges, including family violence.
All of these issues have a profound impact and demand robust mental-health support for individual immigrants, families and communities. But despite this well-documented need, immigrants face significant obstacles in accessing essential help.
Reporters, too, face special challenges in covering immigrant communities – whether in individual stories, on community beats or in reporting on politics and policy.
To help local journalists and regional news organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area improve their coverage of immigrant communities, the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School is sponsoring “Covering Immigrants and Mental Health.”
The workshop will feature a range of local and national mental health and immigration policy experts, award-winning journalists, immigrant community advocates and service providers. The workshop will include expert briefings and specialized reporting skills training to enhance the practical ability of journalists to report on immigrants and immigration-related issues knowledgeably, ethically and effectively.
The workshop is offered at no cost to reporters in print, broadcast and online media as well as editors, photographers, producers or bloggers. Staff, contract and freelance journalists are welcome.
For more information, or to register, please email Ariel Ritchin at ariel.ritchin@dartcenter.org with your name, position and contact information.