Self-Harm and Suicide Coverage in Sri Lankan Newspapers.
Sri Lanka
media guidelines
self-harm
suicide
suicide reporting
Journal
Crisis
ISSN: 2151-2396
Titre abrégé: Crisis
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 8218602
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2019
Jan 2019
Historique:
pubmed:
28
7
2018
medline:
18
12
2019
entrez:
28
7
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Irresponsible media reporting may influence suicidal behavior. Adherence to guidelines for responsible reporting of suicide has not been examined in Sri Lanka in recent times. To examine the quality of reporting on self-harm and suicide in Sri Lankan newspapers and compare the quality between Sinhala and English newspapers. From December 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015, 407 editions of newspapers were screened. Reporting quality was measured using the PRINTQUAL tool. We identified 68 articles covering an episode of self-harm or suicide (42 Sinhala and 26 English). The majority of articles were noncompliant with guidelines for sensitive reporting. Indicators of noncompliance included that newspaper articles frequently reported method in the headline (53%), included detailed characteristics of the individual (100%), used insensitive language (58% of English articles), and attributed a single-factor cause to the self-harm (52%). No information about help-seeking was included. The study involved a relatively short period of data collection. Including social media, Tamil language newspapers, and online publications would have provided additional understanding of reporting practices. The majority of Sri Lankan newspapers did not follow the principles of good reporting, indicating a need for further training of journalists.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Irresponsible media reporting may influence suicidal behavior. Adherence to guidelines for responsible reporting of suicide has not been examined in Sri Lanka in recent times.
AIMS
OBJECTIVE
To examine the quality of reporting on self-harm and suicide in Sri Lankan newspapers and compare the quality between Sinhala and English newspapers.
METHOD
METHODS
From December 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015, 407 editions of newspapers were screened. Reporting quality was measured using the PRINTQUAL tool.
RESULTS
RESULTS
We identified 68 articles covering an episode of self-harm or suicide (42 Sinhala and 26 English). The majority of articles were noncompliant with guidelines for sensitive reporting. Indicators of noncompliance included that newspaper articles frequently reported method in the headline (53%), included detailed characteristics of the individual (100%), used insensitive language (58% of English articles), and attributed a single-factor cause to the self-harm (52%). No information about help-seeking was included.
LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The study involved a relatively short period of data collection. Including social media, Tamil language newspapers, and online publications would have provided additional understanding of reporting practices.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The majority of Sri Lankan newspapers did not follow the principles of good reporting, indicating a need for further training of journalists.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30052076
doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000534
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM