TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Newspaper reporting on a cluster of suicides in the UK
JO  - Crisis
A1  - John, Ann
A1  - Hawton, Keith
A1  - Gunnell, David
A1  - Lloyd, Keith
A1  - Scourfield, Jonathan
A1  - Jones, Phillip A.
A1  - Luce, Ann
A1  - Marchant, Amanda
A1  - Platt, Steve
A1  - Price, Sian
A1  - Dennis, Michael S.
SP  - 17
EP  - 25
VL  - 38
IS  - 1
N2  - 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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0227-5910
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000410
ID  - ref1
ER  -