The Trauma Beat - #3 - Angela M.

In 2017, Illinois high school teacher Angela M. subdued and disarmed a shooter in her school’s cafeteria.

In this episode, Angela speaks about the “overwhelming” media attention she received in the immediate aftermath of her traumatic event. She had reporters waiting outside her home, and calling and emailing her repeatedly.

“It wasn’t about helping people,” she says in conversation with host Tamara Cherry. “It was, ‘What stories can we get out of this?’”

Angela recalls one particularly upsetting interaction with a journalist several months later, in which she had consented to an interview on the condition that the reporter not ask her about the shooting, only to have the reporter blindside her with those off-limits questions.

Angela also talks about the impact of trauma on the brain; why the element of surprise is such a big deal for trauma survivors; and the harm that comes from the hierarchy that society creates around traumatic events. “You don’t tell a rape victim, you know, ‘Get over it. You were raped. Get over it.’ Why do you tell us, survivors, you know, ‘Nobody died. You’re okay. Get over it.’”

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 April 2022.

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

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