Publishers Weekly
03/27/2023
Former crime reporter Cherry (All the Bumpy Pebbles) examines the emotional harm the media causes for both victims and journalists in this thought-provoking study of true crime. Cherry details both her own experiences with reporting-related PTSD and those of the 71 violent crime survivors whose stories she highlights throughout. She writes of Kim Hancox, who watched her police officer husband die on live TV hours before she was officially notified; Amy O’Neill, who survived the Boston Marathon bombing only to see it play out repeatedly on the news; and the moments immediately after a school shooting when a still-shocked teenage survivor had microphones shoved in her face. The author is careful, too, to offer examples of outliers: a hockey player who was sexually abused by a coach felt the case’s extensive media coverage helped him heal. “Trauma reporting is important,” Cherry concludes, “but the stakes of it are so incredibly high, and the line between doing good and inflicting harm is so incredibly thin and wobbly.” Her research and reporting is thorough and empathetic, and she makes a convincing case for centering the feelings of victims and survivors in stories of violence and tragedy. This is a revealing take for journalists and true crime junkies alike. Agent: Carly Watters, P.S. Literary. (May)
From the Publisher
Her research and reporting is thorough and empathetic, and she makes a convincing case for centering the feelings of victims and survivors in stories of violence and tragedy. This is a revealing take for journalists and true crime junkies alike.” — Publishers Weekly
“The Trauma Beat is a stunning work that should be required reading for journalism students, news reporters, true crime junkies, and anyone who wants to write narratives that heal, instead of harm.” — Quill & Quire Starred Review
“If the media wants to gain back lost trust, it has to start being a lot more transparent about the way it does its work. Tamara Cherry does just that with her painstaking research into the link between bad news and trauma. The Trauma Beat isn’t easy to read, but it’s important and forces you to think about the kind of journalism you have and the kind you want.” — Peter Mansbridge, retired Chief Correspondent for CBC News and anchor of The National; author of Off the Record; and host of The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge
“A talented reporter’s on-the-ground experience covering the heartbreaks of big-city crime is reassessed against a backdrop of original research that gnaws down on deeper truths about media coverage of violent crime. Tamara Cherry’s enlightening, gripping, and highly personal account reveals what happens after TV cameras and reporters leave, or when they never show up at all. The Trauma Beat is an original, important, and engrossing book that shows the best and the worst — the complexity of what is too much and when it’s not enough — and gives everyone plenty to think about.” — Adrian Humphreys, Senior Crime Reporter for the National Post and best-selling author of The Enforcer
“Powerful, immersive, and moving. By meticulously detailing people’s pain behind the headlines, this book is a wake-up call to our industry.” — Jo Healey, former BBC journalist; founder and director of Trauma Reporting training program; and author of Trauma Reporting: A Journalist’s Guide to Covering Sensitive Stories
“The crime beat can be a grim assignment, but as a reporter, Tamara Cherry brought so much heart and empathy to the role. In this book, she raises vital questions around how we as journalists tackle stories about the trauma of others. Just because it’s always been one way doesn’t mean it’s right.” — Robyn Doolittle, reporter for the Globe and Mail and author of Had It Coming: What’s Fair in the Age of #MeToo and Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story
“While we don’t always know the impact of our interactions with others, The Trauma Beat looks at hard lessons learned through the lens of a journalist. It is a rich and important read for anyone interacting with victims of trauma and crime. It shines a light on trauma-informed practices, allowing victims to tell the stories they want to share. This book is a gift.” — Elynne Greene, Manager of Victim Services and Human Trafficking, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
