A Conference on Gender, Violence and Trauma-Informed Journalism
The New York Press Club Foundation and the NOW-NYC/Women’s Justice NOW present Covering Trauma: Respecting Survivors hosted by Fordham University’s Communication and Media Studies Department.
- Hosted by veteran legal journalist Beth Karas, known for her coverage of high-profile criminal cases
- Hear from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Khadeeja Safdar on covering powerful abuse stories with rigor and care
- Survivor voices front and center — including individuals connected to high-profile cases, offering rare insight into what responsible reporting gets right, and wrong
- A powerful talk from advocate Louise Godbold, who, after coming forward about her own experience with Harvey Weinstein, went on to support survivors navigating the complexities of public survivorship
- Special talk with Brooke Nevils about her new memoir, Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame and the Stories We Choose to Believe. The book recounts her experience making the confidential complaint to NBC News that led to the dismissal of the highest paid morning news anchor in history, and confronts the dangerous misunderstandings, myths, and stereotypes surrounding sexual harassment and assault.
- Exclusive screening of the docuseries He Made Me Do It + live discussion with the investigative journalists behind the story
- Practical, hands-on training from the Poynter Institute on trauma-informed reporting you can immediately apply
- Insights from Chitra Raghavan, Ph.D., on coercive control and trauma, and how they shape survivor memory and demeanor—and how journalists can tell compelling stories while remaining trauma-informed
- Hear from leading advocates, including the President of NOW-NYC, and a judge who pioneered New York’s Human Trafficking Intervention Courts, offering rare insight into how systems respond to survivors
- Critical perspectives on underreported crises, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
This event is sponsored by The Life Story Initiative and the Toppeta Family Foundation.
The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, with registration and a continental breakfast 8:30 a.m.-9:15 a.m. The first panel discussion begins at 9:15 a.m.
Tickets will sell out quickly so reserve your spot.
- Date: Saturday April 25, 2026
- Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Registration: 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
- Location: Costantino Room at Fordham University located at 150 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023
- Cost: per person includes breakfast and lunch
- General admission Price: $40
- Students: $25 (valid student ID will need to be presented at registration)
A fee waiver is available if costs are prohibitive. Please email jayne@nownyc.org for more information.