Cristiana Bedei

Death, violence, war, terrorism, natural disasters, a pandemic — at some point, almost every journalist will report on a traumatic story and face potentially distressing consequences.

To discover their next big story idea, journalists live, learn, brainstorm and, especially, practice. While finding new stories may come naturally to some, there are easy tactics to apply to overcome any sort of writer’s block.

In the age of instant news and bite-sized live updates, longform journalism continues to thrive. From The New York Times to The Guardian or BuzzFeed, most mainstream media outlets regularly publish longer and often immersive stories, bringing in different sources, interactive elements, audio, video and data.

Da brava ragazza di provincia, ho sempre guardato alle grandi città con ammirazione e un po’ d’invidia. In città—ne ero sicura—la mia vita sarebbe stata piena di cose interessantissime da fare, vedere, sperimentare e, soprattutto, di persone con cui poterle condividere.

La prima volta che sono andata a vivere da sola, a 18 anni, non sono stata io ad aver trovato casa, ma è stata la casa a trovare me.

Con quasi 30 anni di esperienza in sessuologia clinica alle spalle, la psicoterapeuta Roberta Rossi conosce bene la realtà, i dubbi, le difficoltà e i desideri delle donne sulla sessualità e l’orgasmo. E con il suo libro, Vengo prima io, in uscita il 24 settembre per Fabbri Editore, li ha messi nero su bianco.

Publishing something wrong is a journalist’s worst nightmare, and rightly so. Errors can erode trust in the media, have serious consequences on individuals and groups, and undermine journalists’ main job to provide accurate and truthful information. Still, to err is human, especially in fast-paced newsrooms, and issuing appropriate corrections can limit damages.

Whether you’re covering politics and mentioning Chelsea Manning’s whistleblowing, writing about the cast of Orange Is the New Black, or commenting on a volleyball match involving player Tifanny Abreu, journalists from all beats and publications need to be able to write about transgender and non-binary individuals without promoting stereotypes and harmful narratives.

Italian reporter Annalisa Camilli knew that journalists can experience harassment or abuse, but she didn’t think it would happen to her while working on the migrant beat.

It was 2017 when Hannah*, 33, had her first obsessive thoughts about her husband and their relationship of over 15 years. "Within days, I had a complete nervous breakdown and ended up in A&E," she recalls.

Last month Los Angeles Times journalist Sonali Kohli announced on Twitter that she was taking three weeks off to recover after covering several traumatic events, including mass shootings and deadly fires. Her words resonated with many in the industry. Kohli said she needed to give her body and mind a rest, and was sharing her experience to help those in the same situation.

Most people are terrified of 'settling' in their relationships. But don’t we all fall in love with imperfect partners in the end? Susan* is a 30-year-old Londoner who’s about to get engaged to someone who – on paper – probably wouldn’t meet half the criteria on her 'ideal partner' checklist, yet is the person she sees her future with.

Emily* is trying to get a mortgage and buy a house with her husband, but her credit has been damaged by over a decade of eating disorders that, at one point, got her £15,000 in debt.

Quando, dieci anni fa, Beatrice* prova un inspiegabile e netto calo del desiderio, è giovane e confusa. A ventuno anni, si trova alle prese con tutte le regolari complicazioni della prima relazione seria ma anche con qualcos’altro, che la fa stare male ma non riesce a capire.

The concept of off-the-record material can be confusing for sources, the public and journalists alike. It represents a pitfall for dangerous misunderstandings, and often deals with sensitive information that needs to be adequately protected.