Covering Vulnerable Sources: A Mental Health Reporting Project Webinar

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Covering Vulnerable Sources: A Mental Health Reporting Project Webinar

The Mental Health Reporting Project: Reporting on Vulnerable Sources is a comprehensive webinar that equips journalists, editors, producers, and students with the tools to identify and approach vulnerable sources, master trauma-informed interviewing, and craft nuanced stories that portray mental health challenges with accuracy and dignity. Presented through a collaboration between Poynter and The Carter Center, this opportunity provides actionable insights for responsible coverage that amplifies voices facing mental health challenges while minimizing harm to vulnerable sources.

May 20, 2025

Overview

  • Learn from Poynter faculty Kerwin Speight, alongside mental health reporters Fernanda Camarena and Aneri Pattani.
  • Gain techniques for interviewing vulnerable sources with sensitivity while producing compelling stories.
  • Gain access to dozens more lessons via automatic enrollment in the full, self-directed course.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will:

  • Recognize vulnerable sources and their individual considerations in your daily journalism
  • Be aware of best practices for interviewing vulnerable sources while maintaining journalistic integrity
  • Produce more nuanced stories that accurately reflect populations facing mental health experiences
  • Navigate ethical challenges specific to reporting on vulnerable populations

$0.00

Overview

  • Learn from Poynter faculty Kerwin Speight, alongside mental health reporters Fernanda Camarena and Aneri Pattani.
  • Gain techniques for interviewing vulnerable sources with sensitivity while producing compelling stories.
  • Gain access to dozens more lessons via automatic enrollment in the full, self-directed course.

Training five or more people?
Check out our custom training.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. From first contact to final publication, covering mental health stories requires an intentional approach. With the help of our webinar, gain critical skills to identify, interview, and prepare vulnerable sources in ways that protect their dignity and portray their experiences with truth.

How we approach sources influences both the quality of our reporting and their overall well-being. This webinar equips journalists with the tools and understanding needed to report responsibly while amplifying voices facing mental health challenges.

This webinar is designed for:

  • Journalists across all beats who encounter sources experiencing mental health challenges
  • Reporters, editors, producers, and engagement specialists seeking to improve coverage of vulnerable populations
  • Fellows and alumni of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism and Mental Health Newsroom Collaborative
  • Students and early-career journalists developing foundational interviewing skills

The Mental Health Reporting Project is a collaboration between Poynter and The Carter Center, made possible through the generous support of our sponsor, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF). Join this collaborative webinar and glean the guidance of our expert instructors, Kerwin Speight, Fernanda Camarena and Aneri Pattani.

Enroll for free today to gain actionable tools and insights from subject matter experts committed to accountable and ethical mental health coverage. Enrollment gives you free access to the full, self-directed course. 

Questions?

If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.

Instructors

  • Kerwin Speight
    Faculty, Poynter
    Kerwin Speight is an award-winning television journalist, with more than 20 years of journalism and leadership experience, and a strong track record of producing local...
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  • Fernanda Camarena
    Faculty
    Fernanda Camarena is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience in the media industry. As a full-time faculty member at Poynter Institute,...
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  • Aneri Pattani
    Senior Correspondent, KFF Health News
    Aneri Pattani is a Senior Correspondent with KFF Health News. Aneri reports on a broad range of public health topics, focusing on mental health and...
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