How Online Media Reports Suicide News Coverage

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to find out about the coverage of suicide cases in the online media. This is because suicide is a very sensitive issue, which is often inextricably linked to the stigma attached to it. Often, the sensationalizing effect of the media becomes an issue rather than minimizing a better understanding of the problem. This situation raises curiosity about the media's adherence to guidelines for reporting suicide and suicide attempts. Through a qualitative method by analyzed five online media reports on suicide in Central Java. The data source comes from news articles that fit the topic of the five online media. The results showed that some news articles did not follow the news guidelines and did not reflect the principles of social responsibility, such as mentioning sensitive issues such as identity and sensationalism. There is a tendency for the media to sensationalize suicides to attract readers' attention, which can lead to an increase in the imitation effect. Items 1 and 6 are often overlooked. It is important that suicide reporting takes into account ethical, prudent, and responsible approaches that raise awareness and early detection of preventative measures.