Interviewing Kids After a Tragedy

Kevy Baby · 12-16-2012, 03:57 PM

I started to respond to someone on Facebook about this issue but decided to not stir up a hornet's nest in someone else's feed.

The person had posted that they found it "appalling that they are interviewing children in the aftermath of [Sandy Hook Elementary shooting]."

Why is the appalling? You are able to get honest input with someone who went through the ordeal. In BOTH cases, the parents were there, able to give (or deny) permission. The questions were not invasive or traumatizing and the children were well composed and not under stress.

As long as the child is not being exploited and is comfortable with the situation, how is this a bad thing? No matter what, this child has been though something horrible that can never be erased and this can be one step in this child's recovery while at the same time letting the world be able to see that "if this child can get past this, then so can I."

I saw a separate interview with parents of a child who was saved by one of the teachers who sacrificed their life to save children and those parents decided to not let their child be on TV (their choice and I have no problem with it).

Your thoughts?

alphabassettgrrl · 12-16-2012, 05:20 PM

Interviewing children about a trauma runs the risk of cementing the tragedy in their minds. Every time someone asks a child (who is otherwise fine) to tell them how horrid it was, the child now remembers it as more horrid than it had been. Power of suggestion thing. "Are you having nightmares?" leads to the kid now having them.

It also depends how long they keep reminding them of it. For today, it's probably ok, and here it's probably better that our news cycle will be on to the next bloodbath, and lose interest in the kids and leave them to heal as well as they can.

katiesue · 12-16-2012, 06:34 PM

It's not what I would do, but if the parents are there and allow it it's not my decision. I will probably turn the channel. To me it seems like parents trying to get their 15 minutes and I just don't think it's the right time.

While we're on this I also think it's really inappropriate for the press to use the paparazzi type long lenses to take photos of the families getting the bad news or reuniting with the kids. If a family wants to come forward and talk with the press that's their choice but those photos aren't. And I don't think it adds anything. You can get just as good a feel for he scene with a long shot. Do you really want a photo of you hysterical finding out your child is dead splashed all over TV and the internet?

alphabassettgrrl · 12-17-2012, 11:33 AM

Oh, yeah, the paparazzi photos are wrong. Those should not be posted. Leave the families to their own business. The ones who feel comfortable talking will come forward. Leave the rest of them alone.

cirquelover · 12-17-2012, 08:15 PM

I agree with Alphagirl, if the family wants to talk than fine but these long distance shots are invasive and just plain wrong!

€uroMeinke · 12-18-2012, 12:29 AM

I just no longer watch the news

lashbear · 12-18-2012, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I just no longer watch the news

+1
"Like"

or any other way I have to agree with this statement. Remember:
"No news is [ever] good news"

...except for bonzo the wonder-dog who rides a skateboard for charity. Film at 11:00

12-16-2012, 03:57 PM	#1
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	Interviewing Kids After a Tragedy I started to respond to someone on Facebook about this issue but decided to not stir up a hornet's nest in someone else's feed. The person had posted that they found it "appalling that they are interviewing children in the aftermath of [Sandy Hook Elementary shooting]." Why is the appalling? You are able to get honest input with someone who went through the ordeal. In BOTH cases, the parents were there, able to give (or deny) permission. The questions were not invasive or traumatizing and the children were well composed and not under stress. As long as the child is not being exploited and is comfortable with the situation, how is this a bad thing? No matter what, this child has been though something horrible that can never be erased and this can be one step in this child's recovery while at the same time letting the world be able to see that "if this child can get past this, then so can I." I saw a separate interview with parents of a child who was saved by one of the teachers who sacrificed their life to save children and those parents decided to not let their child be on TV (their choice and I have no problem with it). Your thoughts? __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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12-16-2012, 05:20 PM	#2
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	Interviewing children about a trauma runs the risk of cementing the tragedy in their minds. Every time someone asks a child (who is otherwise fine) to tell them how horrid it was, the child now remembers it as more horrid than it had been. Power of suggestion thing. "Are you having nightmares?" leads to the kid now having them. It also depends how long they keep reminding them of it. For today, it's probably ok, and here it's probably better that our news cycle will be on to the next bloodbath, and lose interest in the kids and leave them to heal as well as they can. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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12-16-2012, 06:34 PM	#3
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	It's not what I would do, but if the parents are there and allow it it's not my decision. I will probably turn the channel. To me it seems like parents trying to get their 15 minutes and I just don't think it's the right time. While we're on this I also think it's really inappropriate for the press to use the paparazzi type long lenses to take photos of the families getting the bad news or reuniting with the kids. If a family wants to come forward and talk with the press that's their choice but those photos aren't. And I don't think it adds anything. You can get just as good a feel for he scene with a long shot. Do you really want a photo of you hysterical finding out your child is dead splashed all over TV and the internet? __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
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12-17-2012, 11:33 AM	#4
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	Oh, yeah, the paparazzi photos are wrong. Those should not be posted. Leave the families to their own business. The ones who feel comfortable talking will come forward. Leave the rest of them alone. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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12-17-2012, 08:15 PM	#5
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	I agree with Alphagirl, if the family wants to talk than fine but these long distance shots are invasive and just plain wrong! __________________ Waiting for Summer to arrive!
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12-18-2012, 12:29 AM	#6
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	I just no longer watch the news __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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