Changes in Media Reporting of Suicide in Australia Between 2000/01 and 2006/07

Jane Pirkis · Andrew Dare · R. Warwick Blood · Bree Rankin · Michelle Kate Williamson · Philip M. Burgess +1 more

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Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Journalism and Media Studies Mental Health Treatment and Access

Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate changes in Australian news media reporting of suicide between 2000/01 and 2006/07 against recommendations in the resource Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness. METHODS: Newspaper, television, and radio items on suicide were retrieved over two 12-month periods pre- and postintroduction of Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness. Identifying and descriptive information were extracted for each item. Quality ratings were made for a stratified random sample of items, using criteria from the precursor to Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There was almost a two-fold increase in reporting of suicide during the study period, with 4,813 and 8,363 items retrieved in 2000/01 and 2006/07, respectively. The nature of media reporting showed some variability, with an increased emphasis on items about individuals' experiences and a reduced emphasis on policy and program initiatives. Most strikingly, there was significant improvement on almost all individual dimensions of quality and overall quality. These findings are positive, although there are still clearly some opportunities for improving the way in which the media report and portray suicide. In order to improve standards, continued support should be provided for the dissemination and evaluation of Reporting Suicide and Mental Illness.

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References

2001Suicide and the Media 1994Imitative suicide on the Viennese subway 2001Suicide and the Media 2007Assessing the Impact of Media Guidelines for Reporting on Suicides in Austria: Interrupted time Series Analysis 2006The relationship between media reporting of suicide and actual suicide in Australia 1998Preventing suicide by influencing mass-media reporting. The viennese experience 1980–1996 2000An Exercise in Improving Suicide Reporting in Print Media

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