星空无限传媒

COLUMBUS, OHIO, AUGUST 22, 2022 鈥� 星空无限传媒 is participating in a national initiative that harnesses the power of public media to destigmatize the topic of suicide and equip friends and family to take appropriate action when someone close to them may be at risk.

Facing Suicide is a primetime PBS documentary airing on 星空无限传媒 TV September 13 at 9:00pm.

Amplifying the documentary鈥檚 messaging around awareness, help and hope, 星空无限传媒 will conduct two free interactive online training courses for journalists, journalism students and professors focused on suicide and suicide prevention reporting. Registration is free at .

• Writing the Suicide News Story on Wednesday, September 21 from noon鈥�1:30pm

How do you report on suicide responsibly and in a manner that reduces harm? What should you include or not, and why? Join , journalist and associate professor of instruction in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, for an engaging case study-based training experience to hone your reporting skills. , suicide prevention clinical manager for the at Nationwide Children鈥檚 Hospital, will also be available to answer any mental health-related questions.

• Taking Care of Yourself After Taking Care of Business: The Aftermath of Trauma for Journalists on Wednesday, September 28 from 6:00鈥�7:30pm

After covering difficult topics, what are strategies to cope with the aftermath? Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist , retired from the Cincinnati Enquirer, will share her experiences covering health care, suicide and trauma and how she survived a decades-long career on the front line of journalism. Saker was part of the 贰苍辩耻颈谤别谤鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;team that earned the 2018 Pulitzer in local reporting for 鈥�,鈥� a chronicle of the region鈥檚 opioid crisis. Bailey Fullwiler, MSSA, LSW, a licensed community social worker and independent grief consultant for will also join to share resources within the community that support journalist mental health. Nerissa Young , journalist and associate professor of instruction in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University will lead the discussion.

Participants who complete both free sessions will receive a certificate of completion.

鈥淎ccording to the Centers for Disease Control, one person dies every 11 minutes from suicide, nearly 46,000 people a year,鈥� said Ronnie Agnew, the Thomas Rieland Endowed General Manager at 星空无限传媒. 鈥淥ur nation is dealing with a mental health crisis. But there is excellent information available and experts who can help. 星空无限传媒 is pleased to bring awareness of this complex issue through responsible reporting that offers life-saving information to those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and now through this free training initiative.鈥�

Informing various aspects of the project are leading suicide prevention organizations including the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Jed Foundation (JED), and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE).

星空无限传媒 is able to provide this free training and resources for journalists because of a grant awarded through Twin Cities PBS (TPT). Nationwide, TPT has awarded a total of $165,000 in grants to 10 PBS stations to create suicide prevention initiatives in their communities in collaboration with the national PBS broadcast of Facing Suicide. The grants, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), are part of a national Facing Suicide initiative.

About 星空无限传媒
The mission of 星空无限传媒 is to engage, inform and inspire our diverse community. An NPR and PBS affiliate licensed by The Ohio State University, 星空无限传媒 is a non-commercial multimedia organization serving over two million citizens in Central Ohio through broadcast, digital, programming, public engagement and education experiences. Learn more at .

CONTACT:
Amy Tillinghast (she/her)
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
1800 N. Pearl Street | Columbus, OH 43201
amy.tillinghast@wosu.org | 614-688-2166 | wosu.org