This post was updated on Jan. 15, 2021 at 1 p.m. EST

In light of yesterday’s anti-democratic attack on the U.S. Capitol, we wanted to share some resources to help you or your newsroom colleagues better cover the aftermath, provide the appropriate context for your communities, and practice self-care.

Thank you to all the journalists in Washington, D.C. and around the United States who risked their own safety to bring us the news. Please stay safe. 

Please feel free email me or reach me on Twitter at @ylichterman with any questions or to share any additional resources we have missed. We’ll continue to update a version of this on our website. 

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• Shorenstein Center Research Director Joan Donovan, an expert on right-wing extremism, shared four strategies for how journalists can “minimize harm and keep rumors, lies and other forms of bad information out of their coverage” in the last days of the Trump Administration. These tips are available at the Shorenstein Center’s Journalist’s Resource.

• Hearken’s Election SOS initiative created this guide for covering the violence, which is “pulled from the experience and insights of more than 70 people who met on the evening of January 6, 2021. The people on that call identify as peace-builders, who have covered contested elections internationally, who study the spread of violence and misinformation, and who work in a variety of roles to support stable communities, democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.” 

 • Aubrey Nagle, the editor of Resolve Philly’s Reframe initiative, has been sharing guidance on the language journalists should use to most accurately describe the events. You can follow her here. 

• First Draft News is “researching themes related to the riots at the US Capitol that include QAnon imagery, communism, police collaborating with rioters and the proliferation of protests at state capitols throughout the US.” Journalists and researchers can request access to First Draft’s dedicated Twitter account to access the resources. 

• In a Twitter thread, ONA shared self-care resources from the Dart Center, RTDNA, and more. 

• Trusting News published a guide for how newsrooms can build trust while reporting on the attacks on democracy: “Through this coverage we have the opportunity to demonstrate some basics: We’re committed to facts. We’re independent. We’re working on behalf of the health of our communities.”

• JSTOR Daily published a syllabus of historical and scholarly context for the insurrection that they will continue to update with previously published content to put these events in perspective and foster dialogue.

• A Twitter thread by Radio Television Digital News Association includes resources to know your rights as a journalist and to report safely and responsibly.

• Poynter Institute published a list of tips for guarding your physical and mental health while covering the inauguration.

• The Institute for Nonprofit News also put out a great list of resources for Staying Safe While Covering Civil Unrest.

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We’ll continue to update this list, so please share any additional resources you think could be valuable. 

Photo by Alex Gakos / Shutterstock.com