Improve Media Reporting of Violence

Level Up, a feminist organization in the UK, has published guidelines for the press on improving how domestic violence is reported. These guidelines broadly apply to any reporting of gender-based violence. 

You can use the following guidelines to evaluate news articles about domestic violence.

Accountability: does the article place responsibility solely on perpetrators of violence?

Accuracy: does it accurately name the crime as domestic violence?

Dignity: does it avoid sensationalizing language, invasive or graphic details.

Equality: does it avoid insensitive or trivializing language or images. Does it use words and images that emphasize the seriousness and danger of domestic violence.

Images: does it avoid using stock images that reinforce myths about domestic violence. Does it use images that reveal the personhood of those who experience violence.