| Chapter 5
Covering
Crime and Its Victims
By
Suzette Hackney
Approaching Crime
Victims
When approaching crime victims or their families, whether at the
scene, at the hospital, at their home or over the phone, identify
yourself as a reporter and the news organization for which you work.
It's a good idea to express your sympathy for their situation. However,
use extreme caution. A simple "I'm sorry for your loss"
or "I'm sorry about what happened to you/your loved one"
is enough. Saying more could lead to awkward or inappropriate verbal
missteps. Such awkwardness can cause immediate distrust and alienation.
So it's best to say something small and sincere, than something
that makes both you and the interviewee comfortable. Once a rapport
is established, it's time to begin. Explain your purpose of being
there. Make certain that they understand you plan on publishing
or airing a report based on the information you obtain from them.
Explain, if necessary, what on and off the record means. Tell them
they must use that phrase or make clear if certain information,
which they must specify, cannot be used.
At the Scene
Victims or family members at crime scenes may not want to talk.
The victims are usually upset and grieving. Their emotions are raw
and oftentimes they are functioning in shock. Don't be surprised
if you encounter hysterics – tears, screaming, yells and physical
denial. It's not uncommon for some individuals to pass out or be
unable to stand because the news that their loved one is hurt or
dead is just too much. If you see someone who is in that state,
it's best to leave them alone. Even if they are willing to talk,
much of what they say could be inaccurate or incomprehensible. If
possible, ask the person if there is another family member who could
speak. If there is none, ask that person if there is a number where
you can reach them later. As reporters, we must remember that though
we have deadlines, victims or their families have quite a bit to
do, too. Sometimes they may have to go to the hospital for treatment
or to check on a loved one. More grim is the possibility that they
may have to go to the medical examiner's office to identify a body.
Some may need to go to a funeral home to begin burial preparations.
If a victim or family member is capable of talking at the scene,
approach cautiously. Try to avoid the wolfpack mentality that many
of us have adopted. We'll get our information, quotes and sound
bites if we exhibit a little patience. "We can go out and get
our stories and the exclusives and still be human," says Lori
Dickerson, a Michigan State University journalism instructor.
In several ways, time is a key element in covering the news while
treating victims with sensitivity, she said. The key to the best
stories, says Dickerson, is to be available when the subject is
ready to talk. Very close to the time of an accident, victims might
be swarmed by journalists with notebooks, cameras, lights and shouted
questions. The reporter who stands apart from the mob stands out.
Dickerson suggests stashing the notebook and the briefcase, and
handing the subject a business card with a note written on the back.
The note might say, "When you're ready to talk, please call.
Any time." The reporter might include a home phone number.
"In many cases, the best stories don't come out until some
time after the incident, and the basis for those interviews might
be laid by a reporters whose sensitivity sets them apart from the
pack," says Dickerson, a longtime Detroit newspaper police
reporter. Dickerson advises reporters to stay in touch with people
they interview at critical moments rather than merely getting close
to a source for a heart-wrenching story, and then dropping out of
sight. Better stories may come later, based on that initial bond
of trust.
Still, wolfpack journalism is a reality on major stories, so you
should try to get as much as possible out of that kind of interview.
Then set up your own. Pull that person aside and ask if you could
come back later to talk more in-depth. Newspaper reporters, in particular,
need more information than is usually available from on-the-fly
interviews. If possible, allow interviewees to set the ground rules
– how long the interview will last, where it will occur, if
cameras or other recording equipment will be used – for their
own comfort level.
Be ready to recognize post-traumatic stress disorder. Many victims
may not even realize they are suffering from it, but you may be
able to determine that fact by a simple conversation. Does the person
complain of not being able to sleep or sleeping all the time? Are
there memory lapses? Are they never eating or eating all the time?
Similarly have they lost or gained a significant amount of weight?
Are there guilt issues? Anger? Detachment? If possible, you may
want to wait to conduct the interview, or at least realize you may
encounter these types of responses. Reporters should avoid any hint
of being judgmental. With victims, sometimes all bets are off, and
any expectations of how the interviewee should "be" are
foolish.
At the Hospital
Often when a victim has been hospitalized, family members are at
the hospital, awaiting news about their loved one's well being.
It's best to get permission from a hospital official before trying
to find the patient's room. Hospital spokespeople are often helpful.
They can update a victim's condition, get clearance for you to visit
the victim or help locate the family and facilitate interviews with
them. Often, though, reporters are escorted from the hospital, and
are forced to camp out outside. If this happens, keep your eyes
peeled for police officers who might be coming or going, or for
frantic family members. Sometimes a much-needed cigarette break
for a family member is just the chance you need to gather a little
information or set up a later meeting.
Such tactics may be even more necessary now. A 1996 federal law
called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,
HIPAA, dictates privacy rules that could shut down hospitals as
a source for even the most basic information such as the condition
of a patient. The level to which the law is enforced varies. As
time progresses, hospitals may want to hide behind the law, releasing
little or no information. Federal regulations on implementation
in the law are scheduled to take effect in 2003.
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