Understanding the Impact of Reporting Violence Against Women in Media
Journalists play a crucial role in reporting violence against women, conveying information, ideas, and opinions to society. The news covers alarming statistics on violence, including intimate partner violence being a top risk factor for women, and the economic impact of such violence. Over time, there has been a shift in the news agenda towards high-profile cases, the #metoo movement, changes in police attitudes, and advancing relationships with the domestic violence sector.
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Presentation Transcript
Reporting violence against women News sense and family violence
What is news? o Is it new? o Does it have a big impact? o Is it important? o Is it unusual? o Is it interesting? o Is it about people? o Does it affect our audience?
Journalists describe society to itself. They convey information, ideas and opinions, a privileged role. They search, disclose, record, question, entertain, suggest and remember. Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Code of Ethics
Is it news? o One in four women has experienced violence by a partner One woman is killed by her current or former partner each week One in three women has experienced physical violence One in five women has experienced sexual violence o One-third (34%) of clients of homelessness services have experienced domestic or family violence. The majority of these (66%) were female and one quarter (26%) were children under the age of 14. o Over 400,000 women experienced violence during pregnancy 4
Intimate partner violence is the top risk factor for death, disability & illness in Victorian women aged 15 - 44
Is it news? Violence against women is a huge economic story. o Lost productivity associated with family violence was $484 million in 2002 03 By 2021 22 it is estimated that this will reach $609 million o Nearly 8 million days of paid work are lost each year due to family violence the equivalent of more than 32,000 full time jobs o The combined health, administration and social welfare costs of violence against women are estimated at $21.7b per year. 6
Coverage over time 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 7
How did the news agenda change? High profile murder cases, including Luke Batty s murder The #metoo movement as a catalyst for sexual abuse stories Action and changes in attitude from police forces, including changes in the way crime statistics are reported Longstanding work by the domestic violence sector to improve and build on relations with news reporters Increasing influence of social media on some newsrooms, with big responses to stories about the issue. Possibly, more women in senior newsroom roles 8
Lessons for news sense Be sensitive to where the power lies in society Listen to those who are oppressed or have no voice Do not just accept how things are - ask why! Be sensitive to the issues that underlie visible news stories. For example, why are so many people homeless, why do these people end up in casualty wards?
