In December, Tim Steller, a reporter and now columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, reported on the increasing number of shootings occurring between Border Patrol and illegal immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.  The victims in some cases appear to have been unarmed.  This fact and the lack of transparency in the investigations has cast doubt on the nature of the shootings, especially for victims’ families.  Steller’s investigation shows that in some incidents, the families’ concerns might be justified.

How did you get the idea to report on shootings by Border Patrol agents?
On Oct. 10, there was ...

Shootings, especially those involving children and schools, devastate communities and garner unprecedented media coverage. But with the flood of media attention, reporters must remember those who were affected by the terrible events and take the necessary precautions while covering such a delicate story.

In addition to the tipsheets and stories below, you can turn to the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, which has a page put together for how to cover a tragedy like the Newtown shooting. 

Related Tipsheets

• Children and Trauma: Interviewing Tips
  Black provides interview guidelines for reporters interviewing children who have been through traumatic events. She provides ...