The MediaWise Trust

Suicide and the media

Following a series of complaints about media coverage of suicide in the UK, MediaWise undertook research into journalism codes of conduct and training on the issue. This work was part of joint project with Befrienders International that included a comprehensive global review of research finding about the impact of suicide coverage ('Suicidal Behaviour and the Mass Media') conducted by Kathryn Williams and Keith Hawton, of the Centre for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University.

We then developed and delivered training for media professionals which was refined after testing with NUJ members and journalism students in the UK, and with media professionals in the Asia Pacific region and South East Asia.

This work was followed up by the production of international Guidelines in the form of a leaflet jointly sponsored by Befrienders International, the NUJ and the IFJ. Funding for the project was also received from Syngenta.

We also worked with the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo, Sri Lanka on a more detailed study of media coverage in Sri Lanka, producing materials in Sinhala and Tamil.

MediaWise reports, training material and leaflet

• Sensitive Coverage Saves Lives
  Compiled by MediaWise for the Shift initiative, run by NIMHE, June 2007.
• Taiwan Progress Report
  Report on the Suicide & the Media Symposium, Taipei, 17 November 2006, & other activities.
• Suicide coverage: time to take stock
  MediaWise Bulletin by Mike Jempson, 4 April 2006.
• PCC and Editor's Code Committee must act on suicide coverage
  MediaWise Bulletin by Mike Jempson, 6 January 2006.
• Covering Suicide Worldwide: Media Responsibilities 
  Review of research about the impact of media coverage on suicidal behaviour.
• Reporting Suicide: Guidelines for Journalists from Journalists 
  MediaWise leaflet offering guidance for sensitive reporting of suicide.
• Reporting Suicide: Awareness Training for Media Professionals 
  Devised by Charlotte Barry, with Mike Jempson and Arjum Wajid.
• Suicide Sensitive Journalism Handbook (Sri Lanka) 
  A joint study conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (Colombo) and PressWise.

Other articles

• PCC upholds complaint over suicide reporting
  Reading Chronicle published 'excessive detail' in an inquest report, 7 May 2009
• Editor's Code of Practice Committee publishes guidance note on suicide reporting
  Part of the Editor's Codebook (second edition), 9 March 2009
• Press Complaints Commission censures 12 publications for suicide reports
  Statement issued by the PCC, 5 January 2009
• PCC rejects complaint by Madeleine Moon MP on coverage of the Bridgend suicides
  Read the full adjudication, 1 December 2008
• Reporting suicide in the media
  Report by Anna Siegel of POLIS event, published 1 December 2008 (docx format)
• PCC condemns Daily Sport 'suicide guide'
  Read the adjudication against the Sport's 'The top yourself 10' article, 16 September 2008
• From Shame to Suicide: Is It Ever That Simple?
  By Pat Walters of Poynter Institute, on the suicide of a local television meteorologist, 1 June 2007
• tbt* Suicide Coverage: Opportunity Flubbed
  By Bob Steele of Poynter Institute, on the suicide of a local television meteorologist, 1 June 2007
• Covering Colleagues and Tragedy
  Scott M Libin of Poynter Institute, discusses suicides among journalist colleagues, 6 April 2007.
• Split decision
  Michael Roberts, Denver Westworld, discusses the naming of a suicidal attorney, March 2007.
• Portrayal of Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour
  Booklet from the Irish Association of Suicidology and the Samaritans, June 2006.
• The Media and the Holiday Suicide Myth
  Press release from the Annenberg Public Policy Center, 19 December 2005.
• Suicide and the Media: Recommendations on Suicide Reporting for Media Professionals
  From the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Hong Kong, 2005.
• Covering Teen Suicide: One Paper's Decision
  By Barbara Walsh of Portland Press Herald, published by Poynter Institute, 15 April 2005.
• Death and self-censorship
  Lawrence Eagle-Tribune's editor explains his paper's coverage of a boy's suicide, August 2004.
• Two Suicides, Two Newsrooms, Two Decisions
  Article by Matt Thompson of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, 20 February 2004.
• Covering Suicide
  Three-part series by Meg Spratt for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma.
• Suicidal Behaviour and the Media: Findings from a systematic review of the research literature 
  By Kathryn Williams & Keith Hawton, Centre for Suicide Research, Oxford University.
• Preventing Suicide - A Resource for Media Professionals
  From the Department of Mental Health, World Health Organization, 2000.
• Suicide and the Media - The reporting and portrayal of suicide in the media
  A resource from the New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, 1999.
• Reporting on suicide - Recommendations for the Media
  From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
• Examples of good and problematic reporting 
  From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
• Links