Approaching the family of a person who has died by suicide can be difficult for journalists.
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In the aftermath of a suicide, journalists must be particularly sensitive towards family members and friends during the midst of intense grief and confusion.
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The loss of a loved one brings about intense mourning but when the death is by suicide, emotions experienced in the aftermath can differ considerably from other types of death. People bereaved by suicide often are coping with the loss of a loved one, but also the shock of the death, which itself brings up many difficult questions as to why the suicide occurred. Often people are left with many unanswered questions and a sense of guilt over whether it could have been prevented.
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A key element in the code for journalists covering suicide, is to ensure that they are not breaking the news of the death to the family – it is always worth finding out from the police the extent of which the family have been informed of the death.
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Additionally, without a coroner’s report establishing the cause of death to be suicide, it would not be correct practise to approach the family without clarifying the death was by suicide or not.
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“Sensitivity is the key to interviewing the recently bereaved”
Professor Sarah Niblick, Head of Journalism at Brunel University
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Social attitudes to suicide have changed over the years but it is still common place for many families to feel isolated, embarrassed and ashamed – something which may affect their willingness to interact with the media.
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“It’s absolutely legitimate and right to report on the death of someone in the community and absolutely in the public interest that people know how members of the community have died”
Director of the Press Complaints Commission, Stephen Abell
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The Editors Code of Practise states under clause 5, that when reporting suicide, to prevent stimulative acts, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail of the method used, while taking into account the media’s right to report legal proceedings. The code also refers to “intrusion into grief or shock” which is should be central to a journalists ethically considerations when dealing with bereavement. It is crucial that the individuals who are bereaved from suicide do not feel in any way that the press and media have made their experience any worse.
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Key things to remember:
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Think about the impact of the coverage on your audience
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Exercise caution when referring to the methods and context of a suicide
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Avoid over-simplification (i.e reflect accurately the complexity of suicide)
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Be wary of over emphasising expressions of grief
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Aim for sensitive, non-sensationalising coverage
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Educate and Inform
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For my project: I will take the up most care throughout the production process of my documentary to ensure that the highly sensitive topic is handled with care, in relation to the direct experiences many of my interviewees’ have had with male suicide.
In order to ensure that they feel comfortable with discussing such a personal and sensitive issue, I have agreed with them that I will send my questions over prior to the interview. Any questions which they do not feel comfortable answering will be ignored.
Additionally, if the family members wish to remain anonymous this will be honoured.