Interviewing people caught up in trauma is one of the most challenging tasks journalists may face. A particularly stressful form of journalistic labour is the “death knock” where journalists interview family members or friends in the aftermath of sudden death (Duncan, 2012). Despite the emotional and ethical challenges involved, such assignments are often given to early-career journalists who may have little experience of dealing with trauma.
In a newly published paper, The Journalist Always Rings Twice? Preparing Journalism Students to Interview Those Caught up in Trauma, Glenda Cooper explores how forum theatre – an approach that uses role-play, performance and discussion to examine real-life situations – can help journalism students better understand the complexities of “death knock” interviews. Three workshops were conducted with final-year undergraduate journalism students between 2023 and 2025 as part of an ethics module. Students first discussed the ethical issues surrounding trauma reporting, then used forum theatre techniques to take on the roles of journalists, photographers and bereaved family members.
In this EJO article, we summarise some key findings of this research:
Challenging assumptions about “death knocks”
At the beginning of the workshops, many students expressed discomfort and uncertainty about death knocks. They associated them with intrusion, insensitivity and the potential for causing further harm to grieving families. However, as the workshops progressed, students began to recognise that bereaved relatives may sometimes choose to speak to journalists because they want their loved one to be remembered, their experiences acknowledged, or wider issues highlighted.
Using role-play to build empathy and confidence
The forum theatre exercises encouraged students to explore the perspectives of all those involved. Through role-play students were able to examine the different pressures, motivations and assumptions each person might bring to the encounter. The process of stopping, replaying and changing scenes helped students experiment with alternative approaches in a supportive environment. Rather than simply discussing ethical principles, they could test practical decisions, for example, how a journalist introduces themselves, whether they accept a cup of tea, and when to begin asking questions. Students found that such exercises helped them see both journalists and interviewees as complex individuals, and consider how small acts of empathy could influence the outcome of an interview.
Developing more sensitive interviewing practices
Following the workshops, students reported greater confidence in approaching trauma interviews and a stronger awareness of the emotional impact on both families and journalists. Many said they would now take more time to prepare before conducting a death knock, including researching the deceased person’s life, considering cultural or religious factors, and thinking carefully about how and when to make contact. Students also highlighted the importance of giving interviewees some form of control. Suggestions included contacting families before arriving at their door and allowing time for grieving. A strong theme that emerged was also the need to humanise the subject rather than simply gathering information. Several students reflected that the workshops had changed their understanding of what makes a good trauma interview. They recognised that successful interviewing was not only about asking the “big” questions, but about building trust through careful communication, compassion and respect.
Implications for journalism education
The study suggests that forum theatre can provide journalism students with a valuable brave space to practise responding to challenging situations before encountering them professionally. By combining theory with practical experience, the approach helps students develop empathy, ethical awareness and confidence.
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This article is based on the following original research article:
Cooper, G. (2026). The Journalist Always Rings Twice? Preparing Journalism Students to Interview Those Caught up in Trauma. Journalism Practice, pp. 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2026.2693187
