Presentation at Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Advisers Fall 2009 convention

1. Covering Suicide
Rachele Kanigel
San Francisco State University
http://www.slideshare.net/rkanigel/covering-suicide

2. Suicide: To cover or not to cover?
 When should a news organization report news
of a suicide?
 Why should a news organization report a
suicide?
 What are the reasons for not reporting on
suicide?
 How can journalists, especially student
journalists, cover suicide responsibly?

3. Most professional news
organizations DO NOT cover suicide
unless…
It causes a public spectacle
It’s committed in connection with another
crime, such as a homicide or kidnapping
It’s committed by a public figure

4. Student news organizations often
DO cover suicide because…
 It may affect a large segment of the campus
community
 Suicide is the leading cause of death among
college students (6 suicides per 100,000
college students per year, according to a
recent study)
 Coverage can dispel rumors
 It can help the community heal and make
sense of a tragedy

5. “The media can play a powerful role in
educating the public about suicide
prevention. Stories about suicide
can inform readers and viewers about
the likely causes of suicide, its warning
signs, trends in suicide rates, and recent
treatment advances. They can also
highlight opportunities to prevent suicide.
--American Society of Suicidology

6. Risk: Suicide clusters
 Every year in the United States 100 to 200
youngsters die in suicide clusters, and there
are signs that the rate is rising.
 Suicide clusters in the U.S. occur
predominantly among teenagers and young
adults.
-- Suicide and Mental Health Association
International

7. Media contagion
 Research suggests that spotlighting a suicide
through media coverage can actually
encourage others to follow suit -- especially if
suicide is portrayed as glamorous or romantic.
 Prominent newspaper (or television) coverage
of a suicide has been found to increase
suicidal behavior within the
readership(viewing) area of the newspaper
(network).

9. Ethics Case Study: U of Portland
 In March 2009 a University of Portland student
committed suicide
 The Beacon wrote a story with the headline:
“Suicide claims UP senior”
 University officials pulled the paper, saying the
headline was insensitive, inappropriate and
“designed to shock people.”

10. Ethics Case Study: U of Portland
Suicide claims UP senior
 Do you think the headline was insensitive?
 What would you have done if campus officials
yanked your paper from the racks in a
situation like this?

12. Ethics Case Study: San Francisco
State University
In September a SFSU student set
himself on fire at a gas station.
Here are the original Golden Gate
Xpress story and a follow-up:

15. Ethics Case Study: SFSU
What do you think of the use of suicide
in the headlines?
Is the original story too graphic?
Should the paper have described the
cause of death?
Should the paper have gone into so
much detail about his state of mind?

16. Ethics Case Study: University of
Ottawa
On Sept. 19, 2009 a 19-year-old jumped
to his death from the 15th floor of a U of
Ottawa residence hall
The Fulcrum named the student but
didn’t say how he died

18. Case Study: University of Ottawa
Should the story have included the fact
the student had committed suicide?
Was it irresponsible to say the student
fell rather than that he jumped?
Did the paper sweep the issue under the
rug or protect its readers?

20. Ethics Case Study: Princeton U
Was it responsible for The Daily
Princetonian to report on a suicide
attempt?
When is it appropriate to report on an
attempted suicide?

22. The Daily
Toreador,
Texas Tech
University

23. The Daily
Toreador,
Texas Tech
University

24. Ethics Case Study: Texas Tech U.
Was The Daily Toreador insensitive in its
coverage of the story?
What could the paper have done to
ensure the story wouldn’t offend readers
and friends of the dead young man?
Should editors worry about offending
friends and family members in covering
a suicide or simply report the truth?

25. Tips for Covering Suicide

26. How to cover suicide responsibly
Don’t oversimplify reasons for the
suicide, such as blaming it on stress.
Don’t make it seem painless or easy.
Don’t sensationalize the death.
Avoid melodramatic languague – ex:
tragic death, a life cut short

27. How to cover suicide responsibly
Don’t glorify the victim.
Don’t engage in ongoing or excessive
coverage.
Don’t use the word suicide unless official
sources – police or family members –
confirm the cause of death was suicide.

28. How to cover suicide responsibly
Don’t provide a how-to; don’t cover the
method of death in detail.
Bring awareness to the problem
Offer resources -- suicide hotlines,
counseling services, etc.
Doublecheck statements from family
members

29. Readings on Covering Suicide
Poynter: Reporting on Suicide
The Globe & Mail: Burying the story
won't stop suicide
Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma:
Covering Teen Suicide
Dart Center: Suicide
ReportingonSuicide.org

30. Links to Stories Referenced
 The Beacon, University of Portland
 Golden Gate Xpress, San Francisco State U
 The Daily Toreador, Texas Tech University
 Fulcrum, University of Ottawa
 The Daily Princetonian, Princeton U

31. More information about covering
suicide can be found in
The Student Newspaper Survival
Guide
This slide show can be found at
http://www.slideshare.net/rkanigel/coveri
ng-suicide