Sensitive Interviews: Trauma, Minors, and Vulnerable Sources

What makes an interview “sensitive”

Sensitive interviews involve a higher-than-usual risk of harm to the person you’re interviewing (and sometimes to you). This can include people who have experienced violence, abuse, displacement, serious illness, discrimination, grief, or public shaming; minors; people with cognitive or communication disabilities; people in custody or under institutional control; and anyone whose safety, housing, immigration status, employment, or family relationships could be affected by speaking.

Your job is still to gather accurate information. The difference is that you apply additional safeguards so the interview does not become another injury. These safeguards are not “being soft”; they are risk management and ethics in practice.

Safeguards that minimize harm (without losing rigor)

1) Informed consent that is real, not rushed

In sensitive contexts, consent is a process, not a checkbox. People may agree in the moment without fully grasping what publication can do to them later.

• Explain the purpose and likely outcomes: what the story is about, what you’re trying to understand, and what “going public” can mean (attention, backlash, legal exposure, family impact).
• Clarify control and limits: what they can control (whether to participate, what to answer, when to pause) and what they cannot (you can’t guarantee how others react; you may need to verify with others; you may need to include uncomfortable facts).
• Discuss identification options early: full name, first name only, pseudonym, no identifying details, or “off the record” arrangements if your newsroom allows them. Be explicit about what each option does and does not protect.
• Check comprehension: ask them to repeat back what they understand will happen. This avoids “consent by politeness.”

Practical script:

Before we start, I want to be sure you understand what this interview is for and what could happen after it’s published. I’m reporting on [topic]. If we use your name, people may contact you or react strongly. You can stop at any time, skip any question, or take a break. I can’t promise what others will do, but I can explain options like using only your first name or not using identifying details. Can you tell me in your own words what you’re agreeing to?

2) Pacing: slow is often faster

Trauma and stress can affect memory retrieval, sequencing, and tolerance for sustained questioning. Pacing protects accuracy as well as wellbeing.

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• Start with low-intensity grounding questions: present-day, non-graphic context (where they are now, what they want people to understand, what they feel comfortable discussing).
• Use short question units: one question at a time; avoid multi-part questions that force cognitive juggling.
• Build in “checkpoints”: every 10–15 minutes, ask how they’re doing and whether to continue.
• Offer choices: “Do you want to talk about what happened next, or would you rather start with what changed afterward?” Choice restores agency.

3) Breaks and exits: normalize them

Make breaks routine rather than exceptional so the source doesn’t feel they’re “failing” the interview.

• Pre-negotiate a pause signal: a word or gesture that means “stop now.”
• Offer practical break options: water, stepping outside, switching topics, rescheduling.
• Plan the ending: avoid stopping right after the hardest segment; leave time for decompression and logistics (next steps, contact info, support resources).

Practical script:

If at any point you want to pause, you can just say “pause” and we’ll stop immediately—no explanation needed. We can take a break, change topics, or end for today.

4) Avoid graphic prompts unless they are necessary

Graphic detail can be harmful, can sensationalize, and is often not required to establish what happened. Ask yourself what the detail will do for the audience: does it prove a disputed fact, clarify responsibility, or correct misinformation? Or is it simply vivid?

• Prefer functional detail: what is needed to understand actions, timeline, decisions, and impact.
• Use “distance language” first: “Were you injured?” before “Describe the wound.”
• Ask permission before sensitive specifics: “I have one question about the medical part—are you okay to go there?”
• Stop at sufficiency: once the fact is established and verified, don’t keep digging for color.

Trauma-informed questioning (journalism-focused)

Core principles

• Safety: physical and emotional safety in the setting and in the questioning style.
• Choice and control: the source can steer pace and depth.
• Collaboration: you explain why you’re asking and invite corrections.
• Trustworthiness: no surprises about how information may be used.
• Empowerment: avoid framing the person only as a victim; include agency, context, and what they want understood.

Question patterns that reduce harm and improve accuracy

A) “What do you remember” over “Why didn’t you…”

• Instead of: “Why didn’t you leave sooner?”
• Try: “What options did you feel you had at the time?”

B) Time-anchored, non-graphic chronology

• “What do you remember happening first?”
• “What happened after you got to [place]?”
• “About what time of day was it?”

C) Sensory detail only when it serves verification

• “Do you remember any sounds or announcements that help place where you were?”
• “Was there anything that helps confirm the location—signage, uniforms, a logo?”

D) Meaning and impact without forcing reliving

• “What changed for you afterward?”
• “What do you want people to understand about the impact?”

Handling emotional moments while still gathering usable information

Strong emotion is not a failure of professionalism; it’s a predictable response. Your task is to keep the person safe and the record clear.

Re-anchoring script:

Let’s pause for a moment. We can stop or take a break—what would you prefer? When you’re ready, I want to make sure I have this right: you said you arrived at [place] around [time], and then [event]. Is that accurate?

Do not become a counselor: supportive, not therapeutic

You can be humane without taking on a clinical role.

• What you can do: listen, slow down, offer breaks, explain options, provide resource information, and follow up about consent and safety.
• What you should not do: diagnose, advise on treatment, promise confidentiality you can’t provide, or position yourself as their primary support.

Boundary script:

I’m really sorry this happened. I’m not a counselor, but I can share some support resources if that would be helpful. For the interview, we can pause or stop—your choice.

Interviewing minors: permissions, boundaries, and safer practice

Key idea: minors cannot be treated like standard adult sources

Minors may not fully understand long-term consequences of publication, may be under pressure from adults, and may face heightened risk of retaliation or stigma. Your safeguards should be stricter, not looser.

Step-by-step: before you interview a minor

1. Assess necessity: Is the minor’s direct account essential, or can you report the facts through documents, adults, or aggregated data without putting the child at risk?
2. Check legal and newsroom requirements: rules vary by jurisdiction and by topic (schools, courts, medical settings). Follow your organization’s policy and seek editor/legal guidance when needed.
3. Get appropriate permission: typically from a parent/guardian. In some contexts, a guardian may be the source of harm; do not assume permission equals safety. Escalate to editors if consent is complicated.
4. Choose a safe setting: a neutral, comfortable place with minimal power pressure. Avoid interviewing in front of someone who may influence answers (including parents, coaches, administrators) unless the child requests a supportive adult and it does not compromise safety or candor.
5. Explain the interview in age-appropriate language: what you’re doing, what “published” means, and that they can stop.
6. Plan identification protection: consider withholding name, school, neighborhood, or other identifiers, especially in cases involving abuse, sexual violence, immigration, or ongoing legal matters.

Step-by-step: during the interview

• Use simple, concrete questions: one idea at a time.
• Avoid adult interpretations: don’t supply labels (“So you were assaulted?”) unless the child uses them; ask what happened in their words.
• Watch for coaching: if an adult answers for the child or corrects them, pause and renegotiate the setting.
• Limit duration: shorter sessions, more breaks.
• Do not pressure for disclosure: if the child resists a topic, note it and move on.

Step-by-step: after the interview

• Reconfirm consent with guardian and, when appropriate, with the minor: ensure they still understand what may be published.
• Safety check: “Is there any risk to you if this runs?” If yes, escalate to editors and reconsider identifiers and details.
• Do not promise outcomes: avoid “This will fix it” or “People will be held accountable.”

Decision points: when not to ask, when to stop, when to change approach

A quick decision tree you can use in the moment

Before asking a sensitive question, run these checks:

• Relevance test: Does this answer materially affect what is true, who is responsible, or what the public needs to understand?
• Uniqueness test: Is this information available another way (documents, other witnesses, experts) with less risk to the source?
• Harm test: Could answering increase danger, retaliation, legal jeopardy, or psychological distress?
• Capacity test: Is the person currently able to consent and participate (not intoxicated, not in acute crisis, not coerced)?

If relevance is low or harm is high: don’t ask, or ask in a less intrusive way.

When to stop the interview

• Acute distress: panic symptoms, inability to speak, dissociation, or repeated requests to stop.
• Safety risk emerges: they reveal an immediate threat (e.g., abuser nearby, stalking, unsafe housing) or fear retaliation if the interview continues.
• Consent becomes unclear: they appear confused about publication, or an adult is pressuring them to continue.
• You are escalating harm: you notice yourself pushing for detail mainly for vividness rather than necessity.

Stop script:

I think we should pause here. Your wellbeing matters more than finishing today. We can stop now, or we can pick this up another time if you want. What feels safest for you?

When to change approach instead of stopping

• Switch from event detail to verification detail: “Is there a document, message, or person who can confirm the date?”
• Move from “what happened” to “what you want understood”: impact and context can be gathered without forcing reliving.
• Use written follow-up: offer the option to send details later when they feel steadier (without pressuring them).

Offering support resources without taking on a therapeutic role

How to offer resources appropriately

Providing resources can be a humane step, especially after discussing violence, self-harm, abuse, or grief. Do it in a way that does not imply you are providing care.

• Offer, don’t prescribe: “If you’d like, I can share…”
• Use credible, general resources: local crisis lines, victim support organizations, child advocacy centers, legal aid directories—depending on the situation and your region.
• Be transparent: you are offering information, not professional advice.
• Document what you offered: note in your reporting file that resources were provided (without adding private medical details).

Resource-offer script:

Thank you for talking with me. If you want, I can send a short list of support resources—people who are trained for this. I’m not a clinician, but I can share contacts.

What to do if someone discloses imminent self-harm or immediate danger

Policies vary, but you should not ignore imminent risk. If a source indicates immediate danger to themselves or others, pause the interview and escalate to your editor immediately. If you are in a position to contact emergency services without increasing risk, follow your newsroom’s guidance. Be careful: in some situations, calling authorities can increase danger (for example, in cases involving domestic violence or certain communities). This is why escalation and policy matter.

Practical checklists

Pre-interview checklist (sensitive sources)

• Have I assessed potential harms of identification and publication?
• Do I have a plan for consent, including explaining options and limits?
• Is the setting safe and private enough?
• Do I have an exit plan if distress escalates?
• Do I have a short list of relevant support resources ready?

In-interview checklist (moment-to-moment)

• Am I asking only what I need (not what is merely vivid)?
• Have I offered breaks and choices?
• Am I tracking signs of overload (confusion, shutdown, agitation)?
• Have I re-anchored key facts for accuracy after emotional moments?

Post-interview checklist

• Do I need to revisit consent or identification choices?
• Is there any new safety risk created by my notes, recordings, or communications?
• Have I clearly explained next steps and how they can reach me?
• Have I offered resources appropriately without implying counseling?