CAJ partners with forum to talk about how we report on mental illness

OTTAWA, April 14, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists' unique partnership with the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma brings two sessions on mental-health reporting to #CAJ14 in Vancouver next month.

A plenary session will explore one of the most sensitive but urgent subjects in Canadian journalism today: How do we achieve better coverage and fairer treatment for millions of Canadians who suffer from mental illness? The session is linked to the launch of "Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health," the first Canadian guide to mental health reporting written by journalists for journalists.

The project is being produced by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma in association with CBC News and includes participation by well-known Canadian journalists. The plenary will be moderated by Stephen J.A. Ward and features Liam Casey, Susan Inman and Cliff Lonsdale.

The second session will be a workshop titled "Stigma and Beyond: A discussion about learning how to cover mental illness." While reporting on mental health has improved in the last ten years, much remains uncharted territory. What knowledge and skills do journalists need to develop stories about mental illness that don't follow flawed stereotypes? In an unfamiliar landscape, how do we find and tell stories that highlight social issues affecting a broad range of Canadians who suffer now in silence?

This workshop led by Kathryn Gretsinger and featuring Dr. Bill MacEwan, Maryse Zeidler and Britney Dennison will concentrate on the practicalities of reporting on themes discussed in the plenary session

You can attend these sessions as part of #CAJ14—registration is open for the conference with rates for CAJ members attending the full conference starting at $239 plus taxes. The conference is scheduled to run from Friday, May 9, to Sunday, May 10, at the Holiday Inn and Suites Downtown Vancouver.

Student member rates start at $75, with single-day registration starting at $100. These rates will go up on April 26. All this information along with a link to our online registration site is posted on the main #CAJ14 page of our website.

Information about confirmed panels, workshops and sessions is already posted on our #CAJ14 event page. The @VancouverCAJ Twitter account will also be sharing relevant links and information as the conference gets closer.

The CAJ is Canada's largest national professional organization for journalists from all media, representing over 600 members across the country. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide public-interest advocacy and high-quality professional development for its members.

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SOURCE: Canadian Association of Journalists

Hugo Rodrigues, CAJ president, 613-933-3160 ext. 225, 613-330-8396 cell, [email protected]; Conference co-chair Dale Bass, [email protected]; Conference co-chair Sean Holman, [email protected]; Registration questions can be sent to: [email protected]