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Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 7 hours
  • Course by Johns Hopkins University
  • Offered by

About

Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists is designed to give working journalists and students who are interested in the field an understanding of how news media can impact suicide trends and how that power can be used to improve public health. An extensive body of research shows that certain methods of reporting on suicide deaths can increase the number of subsequent suicides among the public. Conversely, responsible methods of reporting on suicide can increase the likelihood of people seeking help. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have both identified responsible suicide reporting among the media as a key mechanism for suicide prevention. This course aims to give journalists the concrete tools they need to fulfill that goal and make a positive public health impact with their reporting.

Modules

Welcome to the Course

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Pre-test

2 Readings

  • Welcome to Responsible Reporting
  • Link to "Getting to Know You" survey

Introduction to Suicide as a Global Public Health Issue

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Introduction to Suicide
  • CDC Explains Why Media Is Crucial to Suicide Prevention

3 Readings

  • Why We Need to Write More about Suicide
  • Question for Reflection: Responsible Media Reporting
  • Words Make Worlds

Suicide Statistics and Trends

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice Quiz - Suicide as a Global Public Health Issue

1 Videos

  • Suicide Statistics and Trends

1 Readings

  • Activity: Finding Statistics for your Region

Module 1 Wrap up

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Graded Quiz - Suicide as a Global Public Health Issue

2 Readings

  • WHO Preventing Suicide Resource for Media Professionals 2017
  • Question for Reflection: Cultural/Societal Background

Overview of How Media Reports Can Affect Suicide Trends

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
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1 Videos

  • Guidelines to Reporting on Suicide

2 Readings

  • Reporting on Suicide Guidelines
  • How the News Media Impacts Suicide Trends - Research Roundup

The Werther Effect & Papageno Effect

    • 2 Videos
    • 5 Readings
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2 Videos

  • The Werther Effect
  • The Papageno Effect

5 Readings

  • The Influence of Suggestion on Suicide
  • Newspaper Coverage of Suicide and Initiation of Suicide Clusters in Teenagers in the USA
  • Werther v. Papageno Effects
  • Logic's '1-800-273-8255' Song May Have Reduced Suicides
  • Activity: Finding Examples of Responsible Reporting and Poor Reporting Practices

Applying How Media Reports Can Affect Suicide Trends

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Practice Quiz - How Media Reports Can Affect Suicide Trends

1 Videos

  • Communicating the Method

3 Readings

  • Activity: Reviewing a Fictitious Article
  • Question for Reflection: Evaluating Journalists' Reporting Decisions
  • Activity: Police Press Conference

Module 2 Wrap Up

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Graded Quiz - How Media Reports Can Affect Suicide Trends

1 Readings

  • Question for Reflection: Should Journalists Stop Reporting on Suicide?

Story Selection and Reporting

    • 2 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
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2 Videos

  • Story Framing
  • Interviewing

5 Readings

  • Guidance for Working with People Bereaved by Suicide
  • Question for Reflection: How to Handle a Request to See your Story before Publication
  • Tips for Interviewing Victims of Tragedy, Witnesses and Survivors
  • Link to "Interactive Scenario: Interview with a Source"
  • Question for Reflection: Supporting a Source

Story Production and Editing

    • 3 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 2 Plugin
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3 Videos

  • Story Production
  • The Editing Process
  • Social Media

5 Readings

  • Best Practices for Covering Suicide Responsibly
  • Guidance on Reporting Suicide for Broadcast Media
  • Link to "Activity: Broadcast Story on College Suicides"
  • Link to "Interactive Scenario: Conversation with an Editor"
  • Activity: Write a Pitch for a Story Related to Suicide in your School/Local Area

Mental Health Care for Journalists and Module 3 Wrap Up

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Practice Quiz - Applying Suicide Reporting Guidelines in the Field
  • Graded Quiz - Applying Suicide Reporting Guidelines in the Field

1 Videos

  • Your Mental Health

2 Readings

  • Mental Health Tips and Resources for Journalists
  • Resources for Journalists Coping with Trauma

Conclusion of Responsible Reporting Course

    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Post-test

2 Readings

  • Closing Thoughts
  • Link to "Your Feedback" Survey

Auto Summary

"Responsible Reporting on Suicide for Journalists" is a foundational course focused on health and fitness, designed for working journalists and students. Taught by experts from Coursera, it provides essential tools and methods for responsible suicide reporting to positively impact public health. The course runs for 420 minutes and offers both Starter and Professional subscription options, making it accessible for a wide range of learners.

Aneri Pattani
Instructors

Aneri Pattani

William Eaton, PhD
Instructors

William Eaton, PhD

Holly C. Wilcox, PhD, MA
Instructors

Holly C. Wilcox, PhD, MA