Qijin Cheng1, King-wa Fu2, Eric Caine3, Paul S F Yip4. 1. <location>HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China</location> <location>Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA</location> 2. <location>Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China</location> 3. <location>Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA</location> 4. <location>HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China</location> <location>Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China</location>
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Hong Kong news media report suicide-related events more frequently and sensationally than Western countries. Little is known about Hong Kong media professionals' experiences and thoughts about such reporting. AIMS: To understand Hong Kong media professionals' experiences and perceptions of suicide reporting and whether the news media can be better engaged into suicide prevention. METHOD: We conducted three focus groups of journalists from both the Cantonese and English language news media. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods. RESULTS: We discerned three rationales from participants regarding their intense coverage of suicide-related events: (1) satisfying commercial competitiveness, (2) addressing social problems, and (3) responding to readers' interests. The first rationale was a dominant and vigorous motivating factor, and often influenced suicide reporting among local Cantonese media. Media professionals recommended engagement strategies targeted at frontline journalists, media managers, and general media consumers. CONCLUSION: We see potential to involve news media professionals in Hong Kong as working partners in suicide prevention. To succeed, this effort requires engagement in a proactive, consistent, and sustained fashion.
BACKGROUND: The Hong Kong news media report suicide-related events more frequently and sensationally than Western countries. Little is known about Hong Kong media professionals' experiences and thoughts about such reporting. AIMS: To understand Hong Kong media professionals' experiences and perceptions of suicide reporting and whether the news media can be better engaged into suicide prevention. METHOD: We conducted three focus groups of journalists from both the Cantonese and English language news media. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods. RESULTS: We discerned three rationales from participants regarding their intense coverage of suicide-related events: (1) satisfying commercial competitiveness, (2) addressing social problems, and (3) responding to readers' interests. The first rationale was a dominant and vigorous motivating factor, and often influenced suicide reporting among local Cantonese media. Media professionals recommended engagement strategies targeted at frontline journalists, media managers, and general media consumers. CONCLUSION: We see potential to involve news media professionals in Hong Kong as working partners in suicide prevention. To succeed, this effort requires engagement in a proactive, consistent, and sustained fashion.
Entities:
Keywords:
Hong Kong; guidelines; media; online; suicide
Authors: J John Mann; Alan Apter; Jose Bertolote; Annette Beautrais; Dianne Currier; Ann Haas; Ulrich Hegerl; Jouko Lonnqvist; Kevin Malone; Andrej Marusic; Lars Mehlum; George Patton; Michael Phillips; Wolfgang Rutz; Zoltan Rihmer; Armin Schmidtke; David Shaffer; Morton Silverman; Yoshitomo Takahashi; Airi Varnik; Danuta Wasserman; Paul Yip; Herbert Hendin Journal: JAMA Date: 2005-10-26 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Jane E Pirkis; Philip M Burgess; Catherine Francis; R Warwick Blood; Damien J Jolley Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2006-01-04 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Paul S F Yip; K W Fu; Kris C T Yang; Brian Y T Ip; Cecilia L W Chan; Eric Y H Chen; Dominic T S Lee; Frances Y W Law; Keith Hawton Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2006-05-11 Impact factor: 4.839