The Newsworthiness of Suicide

Abstract

There is a paucity of studies examining which suicides are considered news-worthy. By combining data on media reports of individuals' suicides with routinely collected suicide data, it was found that 1% of Australian suicides were reported over a 1-year period. There was evidence of over-reporting of suicides by older people and females, and those involving dramatic methods. Reported suicides fell into three groups: suicides reported in a broader context; suicides by celebrities; and suicides involving unusual circumstances/methods. The data suggest a need for media professionals and suicide experts to work together to balance newsworthiness against the risk of copycat behavior.

Covering Mental Illness

“…This finding resembles that of a study by Pirkis et al (2007), who analyzed the Australian news media (including newspapers) over a one-year period (2000)(2001). They found that "suicides by violent or dramatic methods were considered particularly newsworthy" (281).…”

“…For example, to prevent imitation suicides among vulnerable individuals, media guides discourage suicide coverage that is extensive or prominent; sensationalizes or glorifies a suicide; describes in detail the method of suicide; or portrays the act of suicide as a solution to a problem (Jamieson, Jamieson, and Romer 2003;Pirkis et al 2007). The current study, like a previous one (Collings and Kemp 2010), found disagreement among journalists on whether news reports on suicide promote suicidal behavior.…”

“…The studies by both Pirkis et al (2007) and Genovesi et al (2010) indicate that by presenting an unrealistic picture of suicide, newspaper stories promote inaccurate 810 ROMA SUBRAMANIAN impressions of suicide risk. Further, by their sensationalistic coverage of suicide, such stories may promote copycat suicide behavior.…”

Epidemiology and clinical aspects of stray bullet shootings in the United States

“…49 In Utah, where National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data provided a statewide comparison, newspapers reported on 92% of homicides overall and 100% of homicide-suicides in 2005. 53 Studies of homicide 50,52,53 and suicide 53,54 suggest that the perceived newsworthiness of a violent event strongly influences a media organization's decision whether or not to report it. Unexpected demographics, unusual circumstances, and other stories competing for space may all play a role.…”

Death Scene Investigation from the Viewpoint of Forensic Medicine Expert

“…Moreover, they are considered more newsworthy than those occurring at home, and media reporting may encourage further suicides (Michel et al, 1995;Pirkis et al, 2007). It was suggested that nearly a third of all suicides occur in public places (Owens et al, 2009).…”