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The Center for Ethics in Journalism at the University of Arkansas is hosting an event, “Newsrooms Under Pressure: Trauma in Journalism,” on Nov. 20 from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M.

Reporting on traumatic events is becoming more local, the center’s director pointed out in the university’s press release.

“We saw it first with the Oklahoma City bombing, then Columbine, 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina; every other week journalists find themselves covering a traumatic event at their front door step,” director Ray McCaffrey is quoted as saying.

The event won’t be all talk, though. According to the university, in addition to a panel discussion and Q & A , attendees will also be trained in how to “better interview victims of crimes, natural disasters and other traumatic events.”

The Nov. 20 panel discussion will include three journalists who have covered traumatic events up close and personal:

• Jeff Marks, who is general manager of the Virginia TV station that lost two staff members, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, when they were killed in an on-air live attack earlier this year,
• Joe Hight, who was the managing editor and information/development director for The Oklahoman 20 years ago during the Oklahoma City bombing
• The university’s Visiting Distinguished Professor David Handschuh, who photographed Sept. 11, 2001.

Anyone who wants to attend the free event at the university should register on its Facebook page here or e-mail: uajourethicsevents@gmail.com.

Last month, the center hosted an ethics summit on journalists needing to “take care of yourself,” as iMediaEthics previously reported. It also held a free lecture in early October about “Photographs that Changed us.”

Bobbie Foster, the assistant director for the center, told iMediaEthics by e-mail: “We normally have three major events every fall — a public lecture given by the visiting distinguished professor of Ethics, an ethics summit and finally our media workshop.”

“The center was started about two years ago, and this is our first year with a full staff to help plan and promote events,” Foster wrote.

“The media workshop is our biggest event each fall. We hope to provide good quality professional training for students and journalists for free. We try to plan these events to meet the needs of our local newsrooms and pr firms. We encourage everyone to come, students, journalism teachers, and professionals,” she added.