The Press Council asks the journalists to treat the cases of suicide with more responsibility and to avoid the inappropriate covering of these tragedies. In the July 31 meeting, when examining a notification of Svetlana Tataru about the covering of a case of suicide by the press, the Council members underlined the importance of the media outlets assuming the good journalistic practices in the field, IPN reports.
The notice was submitted to the Press Council after a number of news articles were published about the case of the teenage girl from Anenii Noi district, who allegedly committed suicide after she got a low grade in the Baccalaurean exam. Svetlana Tataru asked to analyze from deontological viewpoint the articles on the issue published on the websites Sputnik.md, VoceaBasarabiei.md and Publika.md. At the suggestion of members of the Council, there was also analyzed a news item about this case published by Jurnal.md.
The members of the Press Council established that the Deontological Code was violated in these news items, but noted a superficial approach to this case in some of the cases. “Regrettably, the cases of suicide are covered very often and often unprofessionally. Moreover, some of the journalists unjustifiably spread all kinds of speculations about the victims or the possible causes of suicide,” stated Council member Ludmila Andronic. The dissemination of the speculations of third persons, including teachers and social assistances, in the case of the teen from Anenii Noi is a conclusive example. The journalists quoted these sources without taking into account the impact that these statements can have on the family of the victim. “It is not the duty of teachers to tell journalists details from the private life of a child or the family of this,” stated Council member Inga Burlacu, calling on the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research to additionally train the teachers how to treat such cases that involve students, based on the regulations concerning the communication between education institutions and media outlets in cases referring to children that were worked out with the participation of the Press Council and that took effect in February 2014.
The guidelines of good journalistic practices concerning the media coverage of suicide recommend the journalists to avoid speculations about the reasons for the suicide and to determine if there are economic, social or other kinds of factors that determined the suicide. The rumors, presuppositions and unfounded blaming and also the shocking and explicit images should be avoided in an article on the issue, while the media professionals should also take into account the risk of encouraging imitative behavior if they present the suicide as a sensation.
According to the guidelines, the articles on the issue should explain to the people where they can seek help in the experienced life situations and that suicide can be prevented if the people obtain assistance on time.
