Journalist Playbook - Highlighting resilience, strength, and solutions

Reporting on domestic violence often begins with the abuse and victimization that survivors have experienced or are still experiencing. It's also possible for your stories to highlight resilience, strength, and solutions at the individual, family, and community level. Journalists can provide a more comprehensive and empowering portrayal of domestic violence, offering hope for survivors and demonstrating the potential for healing.

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“When I talk about my experience, it can be really heavy,” says Angela Kim, a survivor and writer for California Health Report. “You're talking about power and control, different forms of abuse, and just a lot of unfortunate situations. People want not necessarily a happy ending, but they want to know that they can do something about it.”

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Many journalists already routinely include resources – such as the national domestic violence hotline, local shelters, and legal assistance – in stories about domestic violence. This practical information is a great starting point and can be crucial for survivors and their loved ones.

"People want not necessarily a happy ending, but they want to know that they can do something about it."

Angela Kim

Violence prevention consultant and writer on survivorship and disability

Solutions journalism goes a step further, focusing on how individuals and communities respond to problems. While not every story will be suited to a solutions-based approach – and not every journalist will have the time and support to use one – you can enhance the impact of your stories about domestic violence with even brief mentions of what has helped abuse to stop and survivors to move on with their lives. You can:

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· Highlight programs that support survivors as well as those who have caused harm. Detail how these work and their impact on individuals, families, and communities.

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· Examine the role of systems in survivor stories. This can mean illustrating the importance of community resources, legal protections, policies, and social services – but you can also call attention to systems that are not serving survivors and their families as intended.

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· Emphasize community support. Show how friends, family, and advocates can help in a journey of healing from domestic violence.

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A solutions approach also helps shift public perception, from viewing survivors as victims to recognizing their agency and strength. Raising awareness about abuse remains important, but abuse does not define a person. Ask how they would like to be described (terms like “survivor” and “abuser” may not be preferred). Ask about their accomplishments as well as their hardship.

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“Seeing stories that talked about survivors, focusing on their strengths, coping mechanisms, and achievements helped me,” Kim says, “because I could totally relate to all the forms of abuse going on, but what I couldn’t envision was leaving and having a fulfilling life afterward.”

Sample interview questions to highlight resilience, strength, and solutions

· What message do you want to share with others who might be in a similar situation?

· Are there any misconceptions about domestic violence that you want to address?

· What inner strengths have you found during this time, and what strategies, support systems, or resources have been helpful to you?

· How do you see your future?

· What has your healing journey been like (if you are on that path)?

· How can the media help in raising awareness and supporting domestic violence survivors?

Highlighting resilience, strength, and solutions

Further reading

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