Mental health lies at the intersection of every beat in journalism, yet the need for a specialized approach often goes unrecognized. Telling strong mental health stories requires skills that go beyond the basics.
In partnership with The Carter Center, Poynter aims to strengthen mental health coverage in journalism. Together, we are providing journalists with up-to-date tools and ethical practices to minimize harm and advance understanding, awareness and acceptance of mental illness.
This comprehensive, self-directed course equips you with essential insights to cover mental health stories with truth and impact. Through five expert-led sessions, you’ll build skills to cover complex topics like equity, trauma, suicide, and mental health disparities, enriching the depth of your reporting while minimizing harm to vulnerable communities.
Get in-the-moment help on covering complicated stories that involve mental health by enrolling for free and gain immediate access to:
- An introduction to “The Mental Health Reporting Project” with lead faculty Kerwin Speight
- “Getting Started Covering Mental Health” with Taylor Blatchford, The Seattle Times
- “Using Tools to Responsibly Report on Mental Health” with Anissa Durham, Word In Black
- “How to Cover Mental Health Equity” with Ashley Hopkinson, Solutions Insights Lab
- “Covering Suicide and Addiction” with Esmy Jimenez, The Boston Globe
- “Trauma-Informed Reporting” with Mary Hall, Change Agents
This course is designed for journalists, newsrooms and media professionals seeking to:
- Deepen understanding of mental health topics to produce more nuanced and impactful stories.
- Establish mental health as a dedicated beat that engages wide audiences, boosting reliability and audience engagement.
- Differentiate your reporting with specialized knowledge that meets audience demands for responsible coverage.
- Expand your reach by incorporating stigma-free mental health reporting that attracts new viewership.
- Support newsroom well-being during a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
Enroll for free today to gain practical tools and insights from subject matter experts committed to accountable and ethical mental health coverage. This self-directed format allows you to learn at your own pace while developing skills to broaden your perspective, elevate your reporting and serve your community.
Questions?
If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.
