Steph Crosier is a newlywed, aunt, dog mom, athlete, and journalist who for the past decade has covered mostly crime for the Kingston Whig Standard and papers across the Canada’s Postmedia Network. Before settling in Kingston, Ontario, Steph worked for newspapers in Hamilton, Winnipeg and Sault Ste. Marie.

In this conversation, Steph reflects on her early days as a cub reporter and how her thoughts around the crime beat have evolved over time. She also discusses the challenges posed by local blogs that don’t operate by the same rules as mainstream media outlets, adding a layer of complexity to her job and causing harm to victims and survivors of traumatic events who are forced to suffer on the public stage.

Tamara and Steph also discuss barriers that exist for journalists who would like to collect and tell stories in a trauma-informed way, and what it means to practice “ethical journalism.”

As per trauma-informed practice, each guest in The Trauma Beat podcast is afforded the opportunity to review and veto a list of anticipated questions before the recorded conversation. Ongoing, informed consent is sought throughout the production process.

This conversation was recorded in December 2023.

For more trauma-informed storytelling resources, visit pickupcommunications.com.