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When Grief is Not Private: Coping with Media After a Death
When families are thrust into the public eye by a sudden death, it can be jarring and difficult to navigate.
In my role at TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors from 2007–2014, I talked with surviving families of our fallen military about media relations and the thorny issues involved.
Unfortunately, I know the issues involved all too well. My brother, US Army Spc. Christopher Neiberger, was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq in August 2007. Even with a background in crisis communications and public relations, I found it challenging to manage the media attention focused on my humble and grieving family in the immediate days after my 22-year-old brother died.
For the family in the midst of a media maelstrom following the death of their loved one, there is no road map to follow. My personal belief is that families should be able to choose when and if they want to talk to the media, and that grieving families have every right to privacy if they desire it. I’ve learned a few things that might help others supporting bereaved families who are coping with hefty media attention.
Get consensus among the family. Some families see any media intrusion as an offense. Others think media attention may help share the story of their loved one’s life. Some feel the media can…
