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Aneri Pattani, William Eaton, PhD, and Holly C. Wilcox, PhD, MA

Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists is designed to give working journalists and students who are interested in the field an understanding of how news media can impact suicide trends and how that power can be used to improve public health. An extensive body of research shows that certain methods of reporting on suicide deaths can increase the number of subsequent suicides among the public. Conversely, responsible methods of reporting on suicide can increase the likelihood of people seeking help. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have both identified responsible suicide reporting among the media as a key mechanism for suicide prevention. This course aims to give journalists the concrete tools they need to fulfill that goal and make a positive public health impact with their reporting.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Suicide as a Global Public Health Issue
How Media Reports Can Affect Suicide Trends
Applying Suicide Reporting Guidelines in the Field
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Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Designed for working journalists and students interested in journalism, this course empowers learners to understand how news reporting impacts suicide trends
Meets a clear need for responsible reporting in the field
Prepares journalists to ethically and effectively report on suicide, contributing to public health
Facilitated by knowledgeable instructors with expertise in suicide reporting
Provides concrete tools and guidelines for reporting on suicide responsibly

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists with these activities:
Review the basics of suicide reporting
Reviewing the basics of suicide reporting can help you understand the ethical and responsible ways to report on suicide, improving the quality of your journalism.
Show steps
  • Read the World Health Organization's guidelines for reporting on suicide
  • Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines for reporting on suicide
  • Read a few articles from reputable news sources that follow the guidelines for reporting on suicide
Review previous suicide reporting guidelines
Connect to prior knowledge and establish a strong foundation for understanding responsible suicide reporting.
Show steps
  • Review the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)'s reporting guidelines.
  • Explore the World Health Organization (WHO)'s recommendations for responsible suicide reporting.
  • Examine the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s best practices for reporting on suicide.
Write a blog post about the importance of responsible suicide reporting
Writing a blog post about the importance of responsible suicide reporting can help you solidify your understanding of the topic and share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on Suicide Prevention
Show steps
  • Research the topic of responsible suicide reporting
  • Outline your blog post
  • Write a draft of your blog post
  • Edit and proofread your blog post
  • Publish your blog post
11 other activities
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Review CDC Guidelines on Suicide Reporting
Reviewing the CDC guidelines on suicide reporting will provide a solid factual basis on how to report on suicide in a responsible way.
Show steps
  • Read the CDC guidelines on suicide reporting
  • Summarize the key points of the guidelines
Watch WHO Tutorial on Suicide Prevention for Journalists
The WHO tutorial will provide valuable insights on how journalists can contribute to suicide prevention efforts.
Browse courses on Suicide Prevention
Show steps
  • Watch the WHO tutorial on suicide prevention for journalists
  • Take notes on the key points
Analyze case studies of responsible suicide reporting
Gain practical insights into effective suicide reporting strategies.
Browse courses on Case Studies
Show steps
  • Identify case studies of responsible suicide reporting.
  • Analyze the techniques and approaches used in these case studies.
  • Evaluate the impact of responsible reporting on public health outcomes.
Engage in discussions on responsible suicide reporting ethics
Foster critical thinking and exchange diverse perspectives on ethical considerations in suicide reporting.
Show steps
  • Join or form a peer group with other journalists or students.
  • Facilitate discussions on the ethical principles of suicide reporting.
  • Analyze real-world examples and case studies.
Practice writing headlines and lead paragraphs using suicide reporting guidelines
Practicing writing headlines and lead paragraphs using the suicide reporting guidelines will help you apply the guidelines in real-world scenarios.
Show steps
  • Find news articles about suicide
  • Rewrite the headlines and lead paragraphs using the suicide reporting guidelines
Discuss suicide reporting guidelines with colleagues
Discussing the suicide reporting guidelines with colleagues will help you gain different perspectives and insights.
Show steps
  • Identify colleagues who are interested in suicide reporting
  • Schedule a meeting to discuss the guidelines
  • Facilitate the discussion
Craft a model suicide reporting article
Apply course concepts to create a tangible example of responsible suicide reporting.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a newsworthy topic related to suicide.
  • Gather information and data from credible sources.
  • Write the article following responsible reporting guidelines.
  • Seek feedback on your article from experts or peers.
Discuss the ethical challenges of reporting on suicide with a group of peers
Discussing the ethical challenges of reporting on suicide with a group of peers can help you develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of this topic.
Browse courses on Suicide Prevention
Show steps
  • Find a group of peers who are interested in discussing the ethical challenges of reporting on suicide
  • Set a time and place to meet
  • Prepare some questions to discuss
  • Facilitate the discussion
Develop a suicide reporting policy for your news organization
Developing a suicide reporting policy for your news organization will ensure that the guidelines are implemented in a consistent and ethical manner.
Show steps
  • Review existing suicide reporting policies
  • Consult with experts in suicide prevention
  • Develop a draft policy
  • Get feedback from stakeholders
  • Finalize and implement the policy
Create a training module on suicide reporting for journalists
Creating a training module on suicide reporting for journalists will allow you to share your knowledge and help others learn about the guidelines.
Show steps
  • Develop the content for the training module
  • Create the training materials
  • Pilot the training module with a small group of journalists
  • Revise the training module based on feedback
  • Make the training module available to other journalists
Volunteer at a suicide prevention hotline
Volunteering at a suicide prevention hotline will give you first-hand experience in supporting people in crisis.
Browse courses on Suicide Prevention
Show steps
  • Contact a suicide prevention hotline and inquire about volunteer opportunities
  • Complete the required training
  • Volunteer on the hotline

Career center

Learners who complete Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Journalist
Journalists gather and report on news and current events. They often have to write about sensitive topics, such as suicide. This course can help journalists learn how to report on suicide in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion. This course is essential for any journalist who wants to cover suicide.
Editor
Editors oversee the work of journalists and other writers. They make sure that the content is accurate, fair, and ethical. This course can help editors learn how to make decisions about how to cover suicide in a way that is responsible and does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Producer
Producers plan and oversee the production of television, radio, and film programs. They work with writers, directors, and other crew members to create content that is informative, engaging, and responsible. This course can help producers learn how to produce content about suicide in a way that is responsible and does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists manage the public image of organizations and individuals. They often have to communicate with the media about sensitive topics, such as suicide. This course can help public relations specialists learn how to communicate about suicide in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Health Communicator
Health communicators develop and disseminate health information to the public. They often have to communicate about sensitive topics, such as suicide. This course can help health communicators learn how to communicate about suicide in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Media Relations Manager
Media relations managers are responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the media. They often have to work with journalists to get their organization's message out to the public. This course can help media relations managers learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Crisis Hotline Worker
Crisis hotline workers provide support and counseling to people who are in crisis. They often have to talk to people who are thinking about suicide. This course can help crisis hotline workers learn how to talk to people about suicide in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Suicide Prevention Counselor
Suicide prevention counselors provide support and counseling to people who are at risk of suicide. They often have to work with the media to get their message out to the public. This course can help suicide prevention counselors learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Therapist
Therapists help people with a variety of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts. They often have to work with the media to get their message out to the public. This course can help therapists learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Social Worker
Social workers help people with a variety of problems, including mental health issues. They often have to work with the media to get their message out to the public. This course can help social workers learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Mental Health Advocate
Mental health advocates work to improve the lives of people with mental illness. They often have to work with the media to get their message out to the public. This course can help mental health advocates learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. They often have to work with the media to get their message out to the public. This course can help psychiatrists learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Psychologist
Psychologists are mental health professionals who study the mind and behavior. They often have to work with the media to get their message out to the public. This course can help psychologists learn how to work with the media in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Researcher
Researchers study a variety of topics, including suicide. This course can help researchers learn how to conduct research on suicide in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.
Educator
Educators teach students about a variety of subjects, including mental health. This course can help educators learn how to teach about suicide in a responsible way that does not increase the risk of suicide contagion.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on suicide and self-injury. It valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and anyone else who wants to learn more about these topics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between suicide and the media. It covers topics such as the impact of media coverage on suicide rates, how to report on suicide responsibly, and how to help people who are affected by suicide.
This authoritative resource provides an overview of suicide as a global public health issue, including risk factors, prevention strategies, and the role of media in responsible reporting.
This comprehensive report provides a global overview of suicide prevention strategies and initiatives, offering insights into effective approaches and best practices.
This comprehensive handbook offers a thorough examination of suicide and self-injury, covering a wide range of topics from neurobiology and genetics to psychological and social factors. It is recommended for advanced readers or those seeking an in-depth understanding of the field.
Provides a comprehensive overview of suicide and depression, offering insights into the psychological and social factors that contribute to these conditions.

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