This thesis will focus on answering the question of how journalists should interview victims of sexual violence. Journalists learn during their studies how to conduct an interview, but when interviewing a person who went through a trauma, this process gets more complex and there are more things one has to take into account. The main factor that has to be taken into account is the risk of re-traumatisation of the victim during the interview process.

An extensive literature review shows that there are various guidelines written about interviews and trauma, but there is not a lot of scientific research known on the topic. Most guides that are available are more focused on the process of writing the article than the interview process itself or are focused on conducting these types of interviews in conflict areas.

Various interviews with journalists as well as caseworkers were analysed using thematic analysis. The interviews were held with journalists specialising in interviews with victims of sexual violence as well as caseworkers who work for two organisations in the Netherlands and Germany that focus on helping and guiding these victims.

This work sees itself not only as a contribution to research but also as a practical guide for journalists. After the extensive analysis, the main themes discussed in the interviews of the journalists and caseworkers are fairly similar. The main three themes that were seen as a priority in the interviews with both groups were making the interviewee feel comfortable, giving the interviewee control of the situation and to fully protect the interviewee.