Description
Domestic violence affects more than 10 million Americans each year. And in California, more than half of families have been touched by domestic violence. Yet it is often treated as a criminal or private matter rather than a public health epidemic. Journalism can play a role in bringing about change and greater awareness. The Center for Health Journalism’s annual Domestic Violence Symposium and Impact Fund provide reporters with a roadmap for covering this public health epidemic with nuance and sensitivity.
Virtual Symposium
September 25, 2025, from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm PT
This event is open to journalists nationwide. Panel topics will include how current federal actions are impacting domestic violence survivorship, promising models for prevention, questions surrounding the criminalization of domestic violence, and a discussion of the challenges of reporting on these issues.
Scheduled speakers include:
Krista Colón, executive director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
Leigh Goodmark, associate dean for research and faculty development and professor of law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, who was profiled in the New Yorker article "The feminist law professor who wants to stop arresting people for domestic violence"
Julianne McShane, news and engagement writer at Mothers Jones, who is a former fellow at the Center for Health Journalism and will be serving as a senior fellow in the 2025 Domestic Violence Impact Reporting Fund
Brian O'Connor, vice president of public education campaigns and programs at Futures Without Violence
Casey Taft, Ph.D., a staff psychologist at the National Center for PTSD in the VA Boston Healthcare System, a professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and the primary program developer of Strength at Home
Reporters with a California-focused idea who attend the symposium will be eligible to apply for a reporting grant from our Domestic Violence Impact Reporting Fund. The deadline for applications is October 23, 2025.
Grantees receive:
- Reporting grants of $2,000-$10,000.
- Five months of professional mentorship from a veteran journalist.
- Eligible to compete for a $1,000-$2,000 engagement grant. We are especially interested in projects that partner with community-based organizations and their clients for first-person storytelling.
Sign-up for our newsletter as well for updates and deadlines for future opportunities to apply.
Don’t see your question answered there? Reach out to us at chj@usc.edu.