Abstract
Background: Media reporting may influence suicide clusters through imitation or contagion. In 2008 there was extensive national and international newspaper coverage of a cluster of suicides in young people in the Bridgend area of South Wales, U.K.
Aims: To explore the quantity and quality of newspaper reporting during the identified cluster.
Method: Searches were conducted for articles on suicide in Bridgend for six months before and after the defined cluster (26th June 2007 – 16th September 2008). Frequency, quality (using the PRINTQUAL instrument) and sensationalism were examined.
Results: 577 newspaper articles were identified. One in seven articles included the suicide method in the headline, 47.3% referred to earlier suicides and 44% used phrases which guidelines suggest should be avoided. Only 13% included sources of information or advice.
Limitations: Other types of media reporting were excluded. There was no evidence of social media playing a significant role.
Conclusions: A high level of poor quality and sensationalist reporting was found during an ongoing suicide cluster at the very time when good quality reporting could be considered important. A broad awareness of media guidelines, and expansion and adherence to press codes of practice are required by journalists to ensure ethical reporting.
Aims: To explore the quantity and quality of newspaper reporting during the identified cluster.
Method: Searches were conducted for articles on suicide in Bridgend for six months before and after the defined cluster (26th June 2007 – 16th September 2008). Frequency, quality (using the PRINTQUAL instrument) and sensationalism were examined.
Results: 577 newspaper articles were identified. One in seven articles included the suicide method in the headline, 47.3% referred to earlier suicides and 44% used phrases which guidelines suggest should be avoided. Only 13% included sources of information or advice.
Limitations: Other types of media reporting were excluded. There was no evidence of social media playing a significant role.
Conclusions: A high level of poor quality and sensationalist reporting was found during an ongoing suicide cluster at the very time when good quality reporting could be considered important. A broad awareness of media guidelines, and expansion and adherence to press codes of practice are required by journalists to ensure ethical reporting.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 17-25 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Crisis: Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 22 Jul 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2017 |
Research Groups and Themes
- SASH
Keywords
- suicide cluster
- newspaper reporting
- guidelines
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Hogrefe at http://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1027/0227-5910/a000410. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.