Public Awareness

OPDV Bulletin:
What is the Media Saying?

by Suzanne Cecala

Is "domestic violence" reported? Of course it is, and with far more frequency than is readily apparent. Stories about domestic violence are not rare. They appear in virtually every newspaper and news broadcast. What is rare is actually calling it domestic violence.

Domestic Violence in the News

While talking with a friend, I mentioned the recent terrible tragedy in which a woman's ex-boyfriend fatally shot her and a New York State Trooper, before taking his own life. My friend said he hadn't noticed any domestic violence stories in the paper he reads. I paused as I thought about that. Perhaps the story hadn't been covered in that paper. Or maybe it had, and as usual, "domestic violence" wasn't part of the headline.

What does "domestic violence" look like in the headlines*?

I do searches on the Internet periodically. Sometimes "domestic violence" actually does appear in the headlines. When it does, the articles primarily relate to laws and regulations.

When doing a news websearch, I always begin with "domestic violence" (or abuse) and "family violence" (or abuse). I find more articles when I search "murder-suicide." I also search under "kill," "ex-girlfriend" (ex-wife, ex-husband, ex-boyfriend) and "estranged," and some of the more sensationalist terms: "jealous," "spurned," "love triangle," "revenge," "rocky (or stormy) relationship," and "snapped."

For readers who know a little bit about domestic violence, some headlines are easy to identify as such:

Mother Clings to Life After Shooting/Children's Father Suspect in Bizarre Attack, Police Say Missing Wife Found, Husband Arrested For Murder Dentist Disappears After Ex-Wife is Killed Jealous Hubby's Attack On Wife/[He] Gets at Least 15 Years for Murder Woman Stabbed in Domestic Dispute Man Fatally Shoots Ex-Wife, 2 Others Man on Bail for Stalking Ex-Wife Kills Her, Then Himself Man Goes on Trial for Killing Ex-Wife After Appearance on Talk Show Trial to Start in Woman's Slaying/Victim's Ex-Boyfriend Faces Charges of Beating Her to Death Woman's Estranged Husband Charged in Murder Dead Woman's Husband Faces Murder Charge

The crime reported as "murder-suicide" can refer to any case in which someone commits murder and then kills him or herself. However, it's almost always domestic in nature.

Apparent Murder-Suicide in [X] County Two Deaths Attributed to Murder, Suicide Three Children, Father Die in Murder-Suicide

Some murder-suicides have sanitized headlines, e.g. Orphaned Boys Will Receive Aid, perhaps because the reality is just too awful. ("Daddy murdered Mommy and then killed himself.")

Some domestic violence isn't as obvious in the headline, but there are clues. The domestic violence shows up in the text of the article. Here are some examples of those types of headlines:

Opening Arguments Detail Night of Violence Boy Accused of Killing Father Had Sought Protection in Shelter Man Charged In Richfield Woman's Death Standoff Ends in Violence/Gunman Turns Gun on Himself Before Police Storm Apartment Woman, 2 Daughters Remain Missing Bus Driver's Husband Charged Former Police Officer in Court on Stalking Charges

Then there are the ones that don't give clues. You need to read the article to realize they are domestic-violence related.

Man Killed in Shootout with Police Man Sentenced to 47 Years Volunteer Deputies Dismissed Over Rumors Standoff Ends After Six Hours 2 Hurt in Attack; Man is Arrested

Some are victim-blaming or offer other excuses for the inexcusable:

Man Kills Wife, Self; Twice-Divorced Couple Hid History of Violence Disgraced Ex-Deputy Chose Worst Way to Deal with Breakup of Marriage Ex-Soldier Blames Gulf War Syndrome for Killing of Partner

Some are sensationalist:

Spurned Boyfriend Gets 3 Years in Jail/State Calls Him 'One-Man Crime Wave' Husband Jailed for Torching Ex-Wife

And some are just bizarre. (Again, the domestic violence aspect shows up in the body of the article):

Man Who Shot Cat with Crossbow Arrested for Detonating Grenade Irate Man Rams Pickup Truck into Police Cruiser

What's the point?

The Reporter: There are countless resources available to guide journalists in writing headlines that are catchy and informative. Good writing takes skill and practice, great writing takes an understanding of the subject matter, and responsible journalism takes a level of commitment to the reader. Reporters have the responsibility to inform their readers, and they have a special opportunity to do so in a way that educates as well as informs. We strongly encourage all reporters to learn about domestic violence by visiting our website at www.opdv.state.ny.us or by contacting one of their local domestic violence programs. A well-researched, thoughtful story can literally make the difference between life and death for a victim of domestic violence.

Journalists have power, and with power comes responsibility. A responsible journalist lives by a strict Code of Ethics. To see Codes of Ethics for various organizations, click on the following:
Society of Professional Journalists: www.spj.org/ethics_code.asp
American Society of Newspaper Editors: www.asne.org/
Radio-Television News Directors Association: http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/code-of-ethics-and-professional-conduct

The Reader: You can become a savvy reader and start to recognize domestic violence as it's reported throughout the media. It has been said that to name something is to know it. Once people start to recognize domestic violence and name it for what it is, change becomes possible.

THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MEDIA CHALLENGE

By becoming a knowledgeable news consumer (and sharing what you learn), you help increase awareness of domestic violence in our society. Awareness is the first step to understanding; understanding is the first step to change. The following are some suggestions you can try as you encounter news stories throughout your day.

- Finding "Domestic Violence": The next time you are listening to the news or reading a newspaper, pay attention to the "leads" (the sentences that entice you to continue listening to the segment) and the headlines. When you see "Fatal stabbing..." or "Woman found...," look at the rest of the story and see if you can find domestic violence. Clues are words like "ex-girlfriend," "husband," "dispute," and "jealous." Look hard - sometimes it's buried. Take this headline, for example: Hostages Fled After Drugging Captor's Tea. The domestic violence connection doesn't appear until the fourth paragraph, "He was arrested on March 4 on charges of beating his former girlfriend..."

- Do They Blame the Victim?: Does the reporter imply that there was something the victim should have done differently, or that she is somehow responsible (e.g. She Died Because Friendship Wasn't Enough)? How could it have been reported differently?

- Letter to the Editor: You have a voice. Why not use it to hold the media to a higher standard? If you read something you find objectionable, you can write a letter to the editor. You'll be doing something to help educate the media and others about domestic violence. Be sure to include the NYS Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-942-6906 for readers who are currently being abused.

*[Note: all of the headlines are real, with references to specific names and places removed. They represent slightly more than half of the total found by searching the Internet, spanning approximately a two-week time period.]