Ann John1,2, Keith Hawton3, David Gunnell4, Keith Lloyd1, Jonathan Scourfield5, Phillip A Jones1, Ann Luce6, Amanda Marchant1, Steve Platt7, Sian Price2, Michael S Dennis1. 1. 1 Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Swansea, UK. 2. 7 Public Health Wales National Health Service Trust, Cardiff, Wales, UK. 3. 2 Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, Warnford Hospital, Oxford, UK. 4. 3 School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. 5. 4 School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, UK. 6. 5 Institute for Media and Communication Research, Bournemouth University, UK. 7. 6 Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh Medical School, UK.
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, UK. 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 6 months before and after the defined cluster (June 26, 2007, to September 16, 2008). Frequency, quality (using the PRINTQUAL instrument), and sensationalism were examined. RESULTS: In all, 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 that guidelines suggest should be avoided. Only 13% included sources of information or advice. CONCLUSION: 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.
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, UK. 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 6 months before and after the defined cluster (June 26, 2007, to September 16, 2008). Frequency, quality (using the PRINTQUAL instrument), and sensationalism were examined. RESULTS: In all, 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 that guidelines suggest should be avoided. Only 13% included sources of information or advice. CONCLUSION: 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.
Authors: Philip Gregory; Fiona Stevenson; Michael King; David Osborn; Alexandra Pitman Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-02-20 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Chukwudi Okolie; Suzanne Wood; Keith Hawton; Udai Kandalama; Alexander C Glendenning; Michael Dennis; Sian F Price; Keith Lloyd; Ann John Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-02-25