Last month the Guardian published on the front of G2, its tabloid second section, a photograph of a young woman who had killed herself just two months earlier. It associated her death with the effects upon her mental health of an anti-malaria treatment she was said to have taken three years ago. Although the family released the photograph at the time of her death they gave no permission for its use on this occasion. Should permission have been sought?
The discovery of the photograph that day in the Guardian, drawing attention to an article dealing with serious and legitimate questions about the side effects of the drug, came as a shock. The family felt they had made their position clear in a statement issued shortly after their daughter’s death appealing, in effect, for the press to leave them alone. The father had on the present occasion exercised his right not to respond to an email from the reporter seeking his views. The reporter had not seen the family’s statement and was therefore not aware of its concluding line: “There will be no further comment. I am sure you will respect the family’s privacy in a time of grief.”
A quotation from the father which appeared in the Guardian article was, it transpired, not given directly to the journalist but taken from another paper published shortly after the young woman’s death. The editor handling the article on the features desk was not told of this nor did he question it. He assumed that the quote was a fresh one made to the Guardian and that the article had therefore been written with the cooperation of the family. He further assumed that in those circumstances it was perfectly all right to use the picture again.
The editor of the Guardian has on a couple of occasions (one of them also concerning a report involving suicide) warned specifically against lifting quotes from other newspapers without identifying the source. In this case failure to do so played a part in a chain of events with unfortunate effect. The main problem seems to have been a failure of communication.
At present, the Guardian, like the press complaints commission, offers no specific caution or guidance to journalists in reporting suicide or stories involving suicide. It could be argued that the case I have outlined was covered by clause 5 of the editors’ code (the PCC code) on the intrusion into grief or shock. This calls for inquiries to be conducted with sympathy, discretion and sensitivity.
This article dealt with an important subject in a responsible way and it is a pity that it tripped at the threshold – particularly from the point of view of the family of the young woman, to whom an apology is extended.
The reporting of suicide is a difficult area. It is placed very usefully in its wider context by the Department of Health’s national suicide prevention strategy for England, which has just been published (copies can be obtained, free, from Department of Health Publications, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH quote 29158; or read it at www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth). It draws together advice for journalists available from a number of sources, including PressWise (www.presswise.org.uk); and the media guidelines published by Samaritans. These can also be read on the website (go to www.samaritans.org and click on to Would you like to know more? and then “publications”).
Specific notes appear in the broadcasting codes but not in any others in Britain. The BBC guidelines say: “Reported suicides may encourage others. We should … not add to this risk … Reports should usually avoid details of method … unless there is a good reason to go into detail.” The Independent Television Commission’s code makes similar points, urging producers where appropriate to seek advice from such organisations as Samaritans.
I would like to see the following note inserted in the Guardian’s own editorial code: Suicide – journalists should exercise particular care in reporting suicide or issues involving suicide, bearing in mind the risk of encouraging others. This should be borne in mind both in presentation, including the use of pictures, and in describing method of suicide. The naming of any substances used should be avoided if possible. When appropriate a helpline number (eg Samaritans) should be given. The feelings of relatives should also be carefully considered.
It seems to me something like that would be useful without inhibiting interest in an important subject.
The Samaritans helpline is 08457 90 90 90. The readers’ editor’s earlier piece, Matters of life and death, appeared on July 29. Readers may contact the office of the readers’ editor by telephoning 0845 451 9589 between 11am and 5pm Monday to Friday (all calls are charged at local rate). Mail to Readers’ editor, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Fax 020-7239 9997. Email: reader@guardian.co.uk
