Before sharing my mother’s story of #coercivecontrol in the media I experienced some grossly inappropriate headlines that sensationalised fatal domestic abuse.

8 years on when I spoke out I was pressured, guilt tripped + re-traumatised by the media.

1/5
#DomesticAbuseReporting

Since then I’ve talked to other families who also speak of the trauma experienced from irresponsible + dangerous domestic abuse reporting.

I wrote this in June to add their voices to this conversation...

2/5 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/domestic-abuse-victims-like-mum-sally-challen-need-control-stories/

Our approach to tackling #domesticabuse must include how we report these stories + reflect on how dangerous narratives perpetuate #maleviolence, going as far as to excuse it.

Factual reporting is vital but so is editorial responsibility so not to sensationalise our stories.

3/5

Victims of #domesticabuse must be central to reporting. This year we have seen The Sun platform an abuser on their front page and the BBC platform a murderer in a 4-part film.

Newsrooms must start incorporating editorial guidelines on DA reporting.

4/5 https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/11/10/the-media-has-failed-to-hold-violent-men-to-account/

The media have the power to ethically and responsibly report domestic abuse but many choose not to.

Victims + families are haunted by these reports that live online forever. They should not have to be the ones challenging this reporting.

Join our discussion
5/5 https://twitter.com/david_challen/status/1330841284790136832