'see me' has complained to the Editor of Marie Claire magazine, following an article in October's issue showing graphic details of the suicide of Katherine Ward in 2006. We have also copied our complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.
Extracts from our email to the Editor of Marie Claire (Marie O'Riordan) are below:
Dear Marie,
While your article 'Did the pressures of modern life drive this woman over the edge?' (October issue pp 203 - 208) might have raised some interesting questions about stress, work-life balance and burn-out, the opening photographs, showing Katherine Ward's suicide in January 2006, were highly irresponsible and damaging. I am shocked and disappointed that such a magazine would publish graphic and named details about an individual completing suicide.
This is irresponsible for a number of reasons:
- There is mounting evidence that publishing details like this can lead to an increase in so called 'copycat' suicides.
- Clause 5 of the PCC Code of Practice (http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html) clearly states:
Intrusion into grief or shock
i) In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively. This should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings, such as inquests.ii) When reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method
- The Samaritans Code of Practice on reporting suicide states:
News coverage: Press coverage or broadcast footage of a suicide should be discreet and sensitive. Reports should avoid explicit details of method (e.g. the number of tablets taken) and if possible, avoid the use of dramatic photographs or images related to the suicide. In retrospective reporting or reconstructions, actual depiction of means should be avoided; use of a long shot or a cutaway would be better.
These original photos of Katherine Ward were published in the Sun in 2006, prompting many complaints. Although the complaints were rejected at the time, the Code of Practice has since been amended to include mention of the reporting of suicide. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/28/8
'see me' is Scotland's national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health. We work with the media to provide topical facts and personal case studies about all sorts of mental health issues. We pride ourselves on not 'wagging the finger' but, in this case, use of these photographs and the accompanying text about Ms Ward's suicide was wrong on so many levels that it is hard to do otherwise.
I would appreciate a published apology from Marie Claire in the next issue, as well as acceptance from yourselves that you have clearly broken the PCC code of practice.
In closing, I would like to refer you to a recent PCC judgement against The Sun (http://www.pcc.org.uk/news/index.html?article=NTIxOA) which might be of interest.
Best wishes
Suzie Vestri
acting Campaign Director
'see me' - let's stop the stigma of mental ill-health
----
The article in question does not currently seem to be available on Marie Claire's website - perhaps they have removed it already? Anyone who has seen the article and wishes to complain should email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Let us know how you get on.....