Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication Head of Journalism Department Prof. Süleyman İrvan made important warnings regarding the way increasing violence incidents have been presented in the media recently.
Detail in violence news increases imitation risk
Prof. Süleyman İrvan pointed out that research shows that the detailed, dramatized, and continuously repeated presentation of violence by the media can increase the risk of copycat behavior in some vulnerable individuals, stating, “Detailed violence news of this kind can have a triggering effect, especially for individuals full of anger, loneliness, and feelings of exclusion. When the perpetrator's actions are described step-by-step during the reporting of a violence incident, this can be perceived as a 'method guide'. Highlighting the perpetrator's name, photograph, and personal story in the news can create a 'motivation for recognition' in individuals with similar characteristics.”
Balance between the right to information and the principle of not causing harm is essential
Prof. İrvan, drawing attention to the principles regarding the reporting of violence in media ethics codes in the context of such negative effects, said, “For example, according to the Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities of the Journalists' Association of Turkey, 'Journalists should not publish content that encourages violence.'”
Prof. İrvan, stating, “The media should be able to strike a balance between the public's right to information and the principle of not causing harm when reporting news,” added, “It should provide the news but in a responsible manner. It should not unnecessarily highlight the perpetrator's name, photograph, and life story, avoid expressions glorifying the assailant and the act, not provide imitable details such as method, tools, timing, and refrain from sensational descriptions.”
Sensational language shapes public perception
Prof. İrvan stated that frequently used expressions in media language such as “blood-curdling” and “moments of horror” are not only attention-grabbing but also shape how society perceives events. He said, “These expressions exaggerate risk perception, creating fear and anxiety in society. They particularly feed feelings of helplessness in sensitive individuals. When repeated too often, they can also lead to desensitization in society. People get used to violence, and our sense of empathy begins to dull.”
Prof. Süleyman İrvan noted that striking a balance between the responsibility to inform and protecting public mental health is one of the most difficult yet fundamental issues in journalism, stating, “The solution is not to give up on one of these, but to create news within the framework of ethical principles. This is a requirement of responsible journalism. Of course, implementing these suggestions is not easy, especially with the click-oriented journalism approach of digital media. At this point, we need to find and develop mechanisms that will encourage good journalism.”
Victim images deepen secondary trauma
Prof. İrvan emphasized that sharing images and private information belonging to victims creates “secondary trauma,” and continued:
“Sharing images and private information belonging to victims does not only create an effect limited to the incident itself; it can lead to indirect trauma, which we call secondary trauma, and lasting consequences. For families, for those who have lost a loved one or have been harmed, the repeated broadcast of images constantly re-enacts the moment of the attack in their minds. It creates feelings of loss of control and anger in families. It perpetuates their suffering. Society can also be negatively affected as it is exposed to intense and dramatic images. It magnifies the perception of threat and spreads the feeling that none of us are safe.”
Assailant's story increases the risk of heroization
Prof. İrvan, drawing attention to the fact that news language focusing on the assailant's life story carries an indirect risk of “heroization,” said, “Whatever the media talks about at length, the reader/viewer begins to consider it important. We need to be aware that the media has such power. When the focus is on the assailant's childhood, traumas, and family life, a feeling arises in society that this person is worth examining. Furthermore, it creates a sense of identification among peers who resemble the assailant, which can lead to the feeling of 'he was like me, I can do it too.' In such attacks, the media should focus on the victims and solutions, not the assailant.”
Uncontrolled sharing poses a risk…
Prof. İrvan stated that images spreading uncontrollably on social media also carry serious risks, saying, “This issue concerns not only journalists but all social media users, each of whom has become a 'micro-publisher.' We often witness uncontrolled sharing of images from the moment of an incident on social media. Some do it unknowingly, while others do it to get likes or gain followers. However, every social media user should act as a responsible publisher and, first and foremost, avoid sharing unverified information. Secondly, images showing the moment of an attack should also not be shared, as such posts can be instructional and lead to copycat attacks.”
Preventive and solution-oriented journalism stands out
Prof. Süleyman İrvan stated that the media should assume a role not only in conveying violence but also in producing solutions, and noted the following:
“This topic brings two important journalistic approaches to the agenda, known as preventive journalism and solutions journalism. Preventive journalism is a reporting approach that aims to make social problems visible before they reach a crisis stage. In this approach, the media takes on a function not only as a channel reporting events that have already occurred but also as one that identifies potential risks at an early stage and warns the public. However, an important question arises here: In a media system traditionally built on the reflex of “reporting after the event,” how truly possible can preventive journalism be? This question requires discussion not only of journalistic practice but also of the structure of media institutions and reporting priorities. Secondly, the solutions journalism approach refers to an approach that shifts the focus of news from merely reporting problems to expanding it to solutions and examples of good practice. According to this understanding, journalism should make visible not only the question of “what happened?” but also “how can this problem be solved?” Especially in the context of violence news, this approach suggests including expert opinions, preventive policies, international experiences, and applicable solution proposals instead of focusing solely on the incident itself.”
Prohibitory approaches do not produce lasting solutions
Prof. İrvan, stating that prohibitory approaches, which are often brought up after acts of violence, do not produce lasting solutions, concluded his remarks by saying, “Finally, I would like to add this. Whenever there is a terrorist attack in our country, the first solution that generally comes to mind is to restrict access to social media or ban games. However, we also see that such solutions are not effective. What we need to do is encourage responsible journalistic practices, disseminate social media literacy regarding the responsible use of social media, and strive to eliminate the conditions that produce violence.”
