How to avoid stereotypes and building your story on unreliable sources
Covering mental and behavioural health can be challenging for journalists, as stories can fall into many traps, including stereotyping, misrepresenting the nature of the illness and the process of recovery, or using unsuitable language.
In a workshop at the offices of WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR station, speakers including journalists from the New Yorker, the New York Times and ProPublica shared tips for covering mental health. Check out five recommendations from the day in this article on Nieman Storyboard.
Their advice centres around being mindful of how you describe the symptoms of an illness and of the characters you choose to portray it, as well as the reasons why a solutions approach could benefit your coverage.
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
Sign up to receive job alerts of your choice by email, or manage your subscription
Featured recruiter: click to view its vacancies
Three transport-focused B2B titles seek a content editor with SEO skills
Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news, tips, jobs and more
End that deadline stress today and find help in our freelance directory
Personal trainer James Hilton has launched a podcast 'Jim's Gym - Inspiring Movement'. James, a specialist in biomechanics and injury recovery from the Cotswolds, runs Jim's Gym, a virtual online space supporting people over 55 to be more active
Our next Newsrewired conference will be in May 2025, London.
Conferences and study weeks are fantastic opportunities to get the latest updates on the industry and network with your peers
Awards are a great way to have your hard work recognised by industry experts and celebrate your teams. Here is where you can apply
If you find your social feeds a tad too heavy on men's voices, follow and connect with these fantastic women experts on indie media
How do you move print readers to digital? Are there other ways to hold on to subscribers besides a last-ditch deal?
