Citation

Kenny TE, Goldfinger S, Lewis SP. Crisis 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000741

PMID

33275052

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research has found varying adherence by media professionals to recommendations for reporting on suicide. Aims: We compared adherence to recommendations for what to do and what not to do when reporting on suicide in initial reports of high-profile celebrity suicides in major media outlets.

METHOD: A total of 100 articles published in news outlets during 2004-2018 and reporting on celebrity suicides were examined for adherence to reporting guidelines using content analysis.

RESULTS: Articles frequently adhered to guidelines for what not to do when reporting on suicide (83%), but rarely adhered to guidelines for what to do (26%). Limitations: This study was a single cross-sectional analysis and may not generalize to different outlets, guidelines, or countries.

CONCLUSION: While news articles frequently do not include harmful information, they also do not include potentially protective content.

Language: en

Keywords

media recommendations; suicide reporting