When working with traumatic topics related to war and its consequences, respect and ethical communication come first. This means understanding the experience a person has gone through and recognizing red flags in conversation that signal the need to pause or change your approach. At times, uncomfortable questions or memories can retraumatize a person.
That is why trauma therapist and GIDNA project lead Anna Hrubaia conducted a free webinar, “Media Ethics: How to Talk to Those Who Have Lived Through War”, for journalists and anyone working with war-related topics.
“An interview is, above all, human contact. When speaking with someone who has experienced trauma, it is important to understand what is happening to their psyche and what kind of experience they have had — captivity, loss of loved ones, injury, etc. These are different contexts that require awareness and co-adjustment.”
Participants received a structured guide with practical advice from a psychologist, including:
- What may trigger a person who has experienced the consequences of war.
- What helps an interviewee open up and share what matters to them.
- Red flags indicating discomfort.
- Questions to avoid during an interview.
- How to end a conversation ethically and safely for both sides.
Red flags indicating discomfort:
🚩 A person suddenly becomes silent, struggles to find words, avoids eye contact, or gives very short, distant answers.
🟢 The topic may be too difficult at that moment. Do not push for exclusive comments — give the person a choice to pause or continue.
It is appropriate to say: “We can take a pause” or “We don’t have to talk about it if it hurts you.” This helps restore a sense of safety.
🚩 Questions like “Why didn’t you…?” may sound accusatory. Phrases such as “That must have been very scary, right?” impose an emotion instead of allowing the person to describe it themselves.
🟢 Avoid rushing or asking too many questions at once — this can feel like an interrogation and increase tension. Give the interviewee time to respond.
Questions to avoid:
❌ “Can you describe in detail what you felt?” (may retraumatize)
❌ “That must have been very scary, right?” (imposing emotion)
❌ “How did you survive that?” (can feel interrogative)
❌ “Why didn’t you…?” (blaming, invalidating)
You’ve arranged an interview. What next?
✅ Clearly define communication boundaries at the start — this reduces anxiety and creates a sense of safety. For example: “You can decide what you are ready to talk about and what you’d rather not discuss.”
✅ Start the conversation with a neutral topic (hobbies, current mood, etc.) rather than the traumatic event. This helps the person ease into the dialogue.
✅ Move forward gradually with simple, clear questions — avoid complex wording or double meanings.
✅ If the person struggles to continue, allow them to change the pace or topic.
Sometimes saying “We can take a pause” or “We don’t have to discuss this” works better than pushing the conversation forward.
After discussing difficult topics, a person may remain emotionally vulnerable — it is important to help them stabilize.
✅ Thank them and check in on how they feel now.
For example: “Thank you for sharing. How are you feeling now?” or “Is there anything you’d like to add?”
✅ End the conversation slowly — it shows respect for the person and their experience.
The webinar recording is available on the Future for Ukraine YouTube channel.
The webinar was initiated by the independent Ukrainian media holding Live Media HUB (Novyny.LIVE, TyKyiv, Ukraine Breaking News) in partnership with Future for Ukraine.
The online session became part of a series for media professionals titled “Media Ethics: How to Talk to Those Who Have Lived Through War.”
We thank the Novyny.LIVE team for technical support of the livestream.
