Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Changing coverage of domestic violence murders: a longitudinal experiment in participatory communication
Other Titles:	Journal of interpersonal violence
Authors:	Anastario, Michael Ryan, Charlotte DaCunha, Alfredo
Keywords:	Community attitudes;Representations of women
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	21 (2), February 2006
Notes:	This article assesses the effect of an experiment in participatory communication by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) with the media. During the experiment, RICADV worked with journalists to change the way in which domestic violence murders are reported. Traditionally they are reported as private tragedies whereas they should be exposed as matters of grave public concern. One of the main problems identified with reporting was that journalists did not turn to domestic violence advocates as sources but rather to traditional crime sources which often highlight the sensational aspects of the crime and also have a tendency to implicate or blame the victim. The experiment set out to implement reforms and to assess their effect on domestic violence news coverage. To achieve their aims, RICADV produced a manual for use by journalists and focused on using it as a tool for ongoing communications with the media, including assistance with research on incidents as they occurred. The study examined media coverage of 12 domestic violence murders before the RIACDV intervention and 10 that occurred afterwards. Although the research looked at 4 different criteria as the measure of whether the experiment influenced reporting, this article focuses primarily on the resultant changes to language used in reporting domestic violence murders and the sources relied on by reporters. As well as changing media reportage, RICADV was also able to change its practices as a result of its dialogue with the media; for example, the group began to proactively contact the police and reporters after a domestic violence murder occurred and also to enhance accessibility to reporters as a resource. Research found that reporters did change the language they used in identifying domestic violence as the issue, and also the sources on which they relied. Reliance on casual bystanders and family members as a source was reduced after the experiment and trends reflected a heavier reliance on police and domestic violence advocates for information by the media.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13742
ISSN:	0886-2605
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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