Whether or not you specialise in reporting on social issues, there will be points in your career where a story about domestic abuse comes your way.
Reporting on femicide and domestic abuse is incredibly important to get right. Language, narratives and images that perpetuate sexist and misogynistic views only serve to legitimise abuse, blame the victims and empower perpetrators.
From interviewing survivors, to writing reports and headlines and educating your colleagues, you’ll find the resources below really helpful. It includes reporting guidelines and sources of training.
Getting reporting right helps to save lives.
Discussion on reporting femicide
Reporting guidelines and resources
Zero Tolerance resources including media reporting guidelines and free stock images representing domestic abuse.
Level Up media guidelines for reporting on fatal domestic abuse highlights five key areas:
- Accountability
- Accuracy
- Dignity
- Equality
- Images
Training
NUJ Training Wales ran two ‘reporting on violence against women’ events, involving journalists and survivors, to share best practice. There are also guidelines from Welsh Women’s Aid on reporting on domestic abuse during Covid.
NUJ Training Wales has partnered up with Jo Healey to provide accredited Trauma Reporting training. The course covers how to work with survivors of trauma when covering a story, how to report sensitively and how to protect yourself from PTSD when dealing with traumatic stories. If you are interested in signing up for a course or organising one for your workplace get in touch with NUJTW.
Join a union
The National Union of Journalists represents NUJ members working across the media, from newspapers, broadcasting and book publishing to magazines, websites, mobile devices, social media and PR agencies. There is also student membership. This includes staff and freelances.
If you work in a communications role you are also eligible for NUJ membership or dual membership if another union has recognition in your workplace and you wish to be a member of both.
Journalists themselves can also experience domestic abuse and your union is able to lobby employers for better policies, support you and even provide financial assistance through NUJ Extra.
Find out more about the benefits of union membership and how to join here.
One of our directors is a journalist and union activist who speaks about her experiences to raise awareness. If your workplace or union would benefit from the opportunity to discuss how unions or workplaces can do more to protect and support women experiencing domestic abuse please get in touch with us.
Social Media
You can follow these organisations on Twitter: