New guidelines released on covering violence against women
We're pledging to follow them on Day Five of our #ReportIt campaign
Guidelines on how the media should report violence against women and girls (VAWG) are being released today following our investigation into what more can be done to help tackle the issue.
It comes as we begin Day Five of our #ReportIt campaign.
During the past week we have revealed record numbers of women are coming forward to report sexual assault, as well as what the police are doing nationally to improve conviction rates.
We have also highlighted the latest scientific research, which shows changing just one word in a media report can influence how it is received, plus that experts are calling for specialist media guidelines on how journalists should cover cases.
An announcement
Today, to coincide with the final day of our investigation the support charity Zero Tolerance (ZT). has published new guidelines on how the media should cover cases.
We have been working with ZT to help challenge perceptions and today, we are pledging to adopt them.
"Every report on violence against women is an opportunity to stop it happening again," said Rachael Adamson, co-director at ZT.
"The way in which journalists choose the language that they use, so for example...in one particular news outlet they in two different domestic abuse cases they used the phrase 'domestic abuse thug' and then another was a 'brute' and this kind of language portrays this as exceptional events and (that) these men are out of the ordinary.
"But actually violence against women and the violence that men perpetrate, is done by ordinary men.
"We have a society that has normalised this violence."
We have heard throughout this week, from charities like ZT but also survivors and academics, that the way the media reports VAWG stories is very important.
"Language can be used as a powerful tool," said Ursula Christmann, a German psychologist who has studied the impact of language in VAWG reports.
"It can be used and abused."
When trying to prevent suicides, the Samaritans first published media guidelines for covering self harm nearly 30 years ago and say they have made a huge difference.
"I think that's because of the research evidence showing the very high risks," said Lorna Fraser, who leads the Samaritans work with the media on safe coverage.
"We are talking potentially in the worst case scenario about life or death.
"It can influence people's behaviour in a very negative way."
Ursula mentioned above, who carried out her research alongside another psychologist Julia Schnepf, believes their study is among the first of its kind on language in women's safety reports.
We are only beginning to understand the impact VAWG reports have.
The guidelines
Today ZT has published guidelines for use across print, online and broadcast journalism, which span 44 pages.
Created in consultation with media organisations including us at Bauer Media, they are intended to help journalists report cases accurately and crucially, "sensitively".
"The media can raise awareness and improve attitudes to violence against women, but it can also perpetuate myths and misconceptions about the violence and abuse women experience," a statement from ZT announcing the guidelines reads.
"Zero Tolerance’s guidelines provide best practice language as well as guidance on how to frame stories to condemn violence, ensure blame is placed on perpetrators, and survivors are protected."
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “By raising awareness of abuse and its root causes, journalists have a hugely important role in shifting victim-blaming attitudes and beliefs that violence against women and girls is ‘normal’ or should be tolerated.
"Despite violence against women remaining firmly on the agenda, we’re still seeing a worrying amount of misleading and harmful media narratives that trivialise and excuse men's violence against women, as well as racist tropes about which victims are seen as credible and deserving of our attention.
"We support these guidelines which will help put an end to the media’s role in perpetuating myths and misconceptions about victims and the violence women experience.”
Praise for our work
Rachael from ZT tells us about her reaction when she first heard about our investigation.
"Brilliant, brilliant," she said.
"We need more journalists to be taking this idea that they can shift attitudes, seriously.
"Every time there is a report on violence against women it is an opportunity to stop it happening again.
"The media plays a huge role in shifting our understanding.
"Most people hear about violence against women through quite traditional news outlets, through newspapers, through radio and so there's an opportunity to shape people's understanding of that violence."
Speaking exclusively to us Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer agrees that it is "very important" that we get the message out that victims will be supported.
"Too many people have said (reducing VAWG) it's in the 'too difficult box'.
"I do not accept that, because it's difficult, we will do it."
You can read more about his comments here.
The Conservative government published a strategy on combating violence against women and girls in 2021, which you can read here.