Media coverage of domestic violence: Do’s and Don’ts for Reporters

The news media is a powerful force in shaping public perception about domestic violence. At best, media coverage of domestic violence incidents can raise awareness, facilitate compassionate understanding, and mobilize communities to reject violence from within. At worst, it can reinforce harmful norms of victim-blaming, mislead the public on the roots and prevalence of abuse, and re-traumatize survivors and their families.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve news media coverage of domestic violence cases, the Coalition is pleased to release this infographic, detailing a few DOs and DON’Ts for reporters and journalists. Please share this widely with your local news media outlets and on social media!

Sources

^[1]“Domestic Violence.” Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. https://www.ocadsv.org/resources/browse/253. Accessed 26 October 2017.

^[2]“Reporting on Domestic Violence.” Our Watch, Sept. 2014, https://www.ourwatch.org.au/News-media/Reporting-Guidelines. Accessed 7 November 2017.

^[3]“Press Kit for Media Professionals: Reporting on Domestic Violence.” South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. 2015, https://vawnet.org/material/press-kit-media-professionals-reporting-domestic-violence. Accessed 28 October 2017.

^[4]“FIND HELP.” Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. https://www.ocadsv.org/find-help. Accessed 9 November 2017.

^[5]“Distracted by Drama: How California Newspapers Portray Intimate Partner Violence.” Berkeley Media Studies Group, January 2003, https://vawnet.org/material/distracted-drama-how-california-newspapers-portray-intimate-partner-violence. Accessed 27 October 2017.

^[6]“Drugs, Alcohol, and Abuse.” National Domestic Violence Hotline, March 11, 2015, http://www.thehotline.org/2015/03/11/drugs-alcohol-and-abuse. Accessed 19 October 2017.

^[7]“Intervention Programs for Abusive Behavior.” National Domestic Violence Hotline, July 3, 2014, http://www.thehotline.org/2014/07/03/intervention-programs-for-abusive-behavior. Accessed 19 October 2017.

^[8]“Press Kit for Media Professionals: Reporting on Domestic Violence.” South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. 2015, https://vawnet.org/material/press-kit-media-professionals-reporting-domestic-violence. Accessed 28 October 2017.

^[9]“How to Address Media Coverage of DV Homicides.” http://domesticviolencehomicidehelp.com/media-coverage-domestic-violence-homicides. Accessed 6 November 2017.