Poynter: “Searching online for what to do after a sexual assault produces a lot of laws and complicated, dense information that is hard to follow, Loum said. Resources are also difficult to find. So Loum, a data journalist and member of the 2021-2022 Los Angeles Times Fellowship class, set out to create a guide for navigating the steps to take after a sexual assault. The result is an interactive project published late last month by the Los Angeles Times with support from the newspaper’s Utility Journalism Team. The lede states that sexual assault is a common yet underreported crime. “If you or someone you know has experienced the trauma of sexual assault, the steps that follow — exams, kits, police, prosecutors — can be confusing and difficult,” Loum writes. “Whether the assault was in the last 48 hours or many years ago, this guide will help you or a loved one understand and navigate the process.” She notes to the reader that their answers will not be tracked or saved. The first question is: Did you experience sexual assault? The answer choices are “Yes” or “No, but I know someone who did.” If you click “Yes,” the next question is, “Are you safe?” If you click the second choice, Loum offers tips on how family members can help, such as showing support by driving the survivor to an exam, therapy sessions or court dates.

I wanted to create this place where people would have agency over what they want to do, because every survivor is different,” Loum said. “Not everyone wants to go to the police right away. Not everyone is ready to talk about trauma that they’ve experienced. Not everyone is ready to seek mental health (services) right away.”