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Monday, June 25, 2007
Letter to the BBB: Enquirer’s Suicide Coverage!
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
This was recently submitted to the Cincinnati Better Business Bureau. For a “settlement,” I have requested a front page Sunday story about how to reduce violence in our community, self-inflicted or otherwise.
On Sunday, June 24th, The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a front page story about suicide. (Find it online here: http://tinyurl.com/2zhbdd ) This violates all accepted practices regarding journalism ethics. For example, you can find the Wolrd Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for media handling of suicide here: http://tinyurl.com/29xmer
Specifically, the WHO warns to avoid front page news coverage, to avoid discussing methods used, and to avoid discussing locations. Doing things like this increases the number of “copycat suicides,” which has long been documented as a serious threat when media decides to break commonly accepted guidelines for writing about suicide.
Additionally, the Enquirer failed to provide clear information about how people can get help. They published a list of phone numbers, but did not indicate for whom the numbers were assigned. So 911 was included with some local lines and some 800 numbers. Is there a difference in who to call if you are a concerned friend or family member? If you are thinking of suicide? When should 911 become involved? The Enquirer failed to deliver.
I am submitting this complaint because I fear that The Enquirer’s story—which appears to violate commonly accepted standards for news reporting—could cause a spike in regional deaths as people imitate that which they read in the front page of the City’s paper of record.
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25 Jun 2007 at 12:45 pm | #
Unfortunately the BBB, is a private organization and the Enquirer may or may not be a paying member ?
While interesting, I suspect your settlement will be rejected.
It is difficult to combat arrogance and the Enquirer is the leader in political agenda arrogance.
25 Jun 2007 at 07:08 pm | #
Good idea, but wrong target. The BBB isn’t interested.
1) Write to local and national suicide prevention orgs and ask them to comment or to write complaints to Tom Callinan - get copies, natch.
2) Review Gannett’s Newspaper Code of Ethics and cite the suicide article’s code and other violations in a complaint to Phil Currie, Senior VP News, Newspaper Division.
Currie’s e-mail and phone: (703)854-6778
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FYI, in the Enquirer newsroom, Peggy O’Farrell is regarded as an incompetent ding-a-ling. She took over the medical desk from Tim Bonfield. He had his problems, but she’s hopeless.
17 Jul 2007 at 10:50 am | #
The Enquirer does suck.