Why Careful Reporting on Tragic Cases Is Important

He learned the news that his mother had been killed from the online media.

"I saw the news on the portals and I couldn't believe it," Alaudin Haradini told Radio Free Europe (REL) on March 25, a day after his mother was killed in the Vushtrri village of Stanoc.

This is because, shortly after the murder, various media had published the identity of the murdered 42-year-old woman.

Even the brother of Liridona Ademaj, the woman who was killed in November 2023 on a road in the village of Brnica in Prishtina, says that there have been cases when family members have been worried about the cause of reports from some media.

"There have been several investigative leads that have been set up by the media which could have aroused some expectations or even momentary concern," Leonard Ademaj tells REL, but emphasizing that, in general, he is satisfied with the reporting made on the case of his sister's murder.

But this month, after a case that was reported in the media as a slaughter and suicide, the Kosovo Print Media Council (KMSHK) called on the media to be "careful, empathy and professionalism" when reporting on tragic cases.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) also joined the call, demanding that the identity and privacy of those involved in the case be preserved.

But, in addition to the violation of privacy, Bind Skeja, executive director of the Center for Information and Social Improvement, is also concerned about the general content of texts about tragic cases, such as murders and suicides.

"Four or five news stories are published with little information about the case, [with titles such as] 'here is an article that has left him...', 'here's what the family members say'. I have seen that the media have also gone to the funeral. It doesn't take a lot of brains to know that this is a mistake," Skeja tells REL.

What effect does this news have?

Such news only has a negative effect, according to Skeja, who runs the volunteer call center, Lifeline, offering help to people who have suicidal thoughts, or who suffer from depression or anxiety.

He says the breach of privacy inadvertently makes survivors and their relatives familiar faces to the public.

"If tomorrow I go to an employer, the employer will Google my name, and the news comes out 'This is XY's mother who committed suicide,' and [the employer] creates perceptions that may be peaceful, but that have a direct impact on the lives of these people," says Skeja.

He believes that what makes the situation in Kosovo even more problematic is the way "the topic of suicide is still quite stigmatised".

According to Skaga, an even more problematic effect is "what this news does to people who have suicidal thoughts".

"The sensationalism of cases and the publication of excessive, unnecessary details can give the impression to people who already have suicidal thoughts, that there is no escape," he says.

"Because they constantly see people in the news who end up committing suicide and this can push them, who have already thought about committing suicide, to speed up the plan or to create new ideas on how to do it," Skeja adds.

Një studim i publikuar në vitin 2020 nga hulumtues ndërkombëtarë të universiteteteve dhe institucioneve shëndetësore të ndryshme kishte gjetur se rreziku për vetëvrasje rritej për 13 për qind në periudhat kur mediat raportonin për vdekje të personave të famshëm nga vetëvrasjet.

Ai studim gjeti edhe që në rastet kur publikohet edhe mënyra se si ishte kryer vetëvrasja, kishte rritje për 30 per qind të rasteve të vdekjeve nga po ajo metodë.

Një efekt i ngjashëm është vërejtur edhe në Kosovë.

“Kur fliten këto tema shumë në publik, ka më shumë thirrje drejt Linjës së Jetës”, thotë Skeja.

Por, ai do të donte më shumë thirrje, pasi që vetëm ashtu mund “të baraspeshohet dëmi që bëhet prej raportimeve”. Problemi është, sipas tij, që mediat zakonisht nuk udhëzojnë lexuesit se ku mund të kërkojnë ndihmë.

“Mediat flasin për vetëvrasje, por nuk u tregojnë njerëzve se ku të kërkojnë ndihmë. Njerëzit i lexojnë këto lajme dhe nuk e dinë se ekziston Linja e Jetës”, thotë Skeja.

Çfarë s’duhet raportuar?

Fernanda Camarena, ligjëruese e etikës në institutin për media Poynter, me seli në Florida të Shteteve të Bashkuara të Amerikës, thotë se parim kyç për gazetarët e redaktorët do të duhej të ishte “minimizimi i dëmit”.

"As journalists, we must remember that our priority is the audience and the fulfillment of our journalistic mission," she tells Radio Free Europe.

In order not to deepen the trauma, prejudice and incitement of other similar cases, Camarena recalls the principles of large media organizations, such as the Associated Press agency, not to report on suicides, except when "it is a matter of a public figure, interferes with public life or represents a great public interest".

"And, when such news needs to be reported, they have guidelines to follow," says Camarena, who previously served as a manager on NBC News' U.S. Standards and Practices team.

And what guidelines are involved?

Camarena emphasizes some key ones, such as: not to be given the main media space, to avoid glorifying or romanticizing suicide, not to describe attempts as "failed" or "unsuccessful", under no circumstances to publish photos or videos from the scene, such as images of the deceased, notes left or the exact location.

She also suggests including, where possible, stories of people who have continued to live happily ever after suicide attempts.

"Writing articles about treatment and recovery shows the audience that help exists," says Camarena.

Camarena describes reporting on such tragic cases - i.e. murders and suicides - as "a test of the core values of the media organization".

"Statistics should not dictate editorial judgment, and newsrooms should define success as more than just the number of clicks. Do we serve our audience and their needs? Did we serve the public good?", she concludes.

And Skeja estimates that many media outlets in Kosovo are failing precisely at this point.

"The only reason this [unethical reporting] happens is purely capitalist. This news generates clicks, because people have a morbid curiosity to know what is happening," says Skeja.

Kosovo Police's daily reports are often news sources on cases of violence.

According to Police data, from January to April of this year, six cases of murder occurred.

There is no data on the number of suicides, while 890 cases of domestic violence have been reported./REL