Interviewing a trauma survivor is not just about asking the right questions. It is about preparation, patience, and knowing your ethical responsibilities before, during, and after the recording.
This quick guide is based on the article How to interview trauma survivors by TP Mishra, which we recommend you read before applying the checklist below.
How to interview trauma survivors
- [ ] Prepare thoroughly: Research the context, timeline, and background before the interview begins. Never assume you already understand the story.
- [ ] Create a safe environment: Choose a private, comfortable space. Arrive with equipment packed away. Allow the interviewee to set boundaries and stop at any time.
- [ ] Watch your language: The word ‘interview’ can carry fear for some people. The word ‘Conversation’ is often a better choice.
- [ ] Start slowly: Begin with informal talk before any recording. Use open-ended questions and follow the interviewee’s lead.
- [ ] Embrace silence: Do not fill pauses. Silence is part of the process, and some of the most important testimony emerges from it.
- [ ] Stay steady: Your role is not to extract emotion, but to remain calm and present when emotion surfaces.
- [ ] Adapt to the person: Children, survivors of sexual violence, people with disabilities, and those in acute crisis all require different approaches.
- [ ] End gently: Do not rush away when recording stops. The moments after an interview can be as important as the interview itself.
- [ ] Fulfil every promise: Be transparent about how the material will be used, who will see it, and what happens next.
- [ ] Exercise restraint: Not everything disclosed is meant for publication. Ethical responsibility does not end when the recording stops.
These principles will not make trauma interviews easy. But they will make them more considered, more ethical, and more likely to produce testimony that is both accurate and fair.
Every interview is different, and experience is the best teacher. Return to these principles before each interview, reflect on them afterwards, and use what you learn to refine your approach.
Good trauma-informed journalism is not a fixed method – it’s a discipline that develops over a career.
Trauma-informed interviewing is a discipline, not a checklist. Preparation, patience, and ethical judgement – applied consistently and refined through experience – are what separate good journalism from harmful journalism.
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