PCC upholds complaint over suicide reporting

The Press Complaints Commission has upheld a complaint against the Reading Chronicle for publishing an inquest report that contained excessive detail about a method of suicide.

The article reported the death of a woman who had taken her own life by consuming poisonous leaves. It included the type of leaf used; how the deceased found out about it; the fact there was no antidote; and a reference to the speed of the process. The Commission felt that this information may have been sufficient to spell out to others how to carry out such a suicide. The complaint, which came from the parents of the deceased, was therefore upheld.

The Reading Chronicle has published the adjudication today. To read the text click here.

This case follows a number of recent rulings by which the PCC has emphasised the importance of avoiding – especially in inquest reports – the publication of details that might unnecessarily inform readers of detailed methods of suicide. This included adjudications against several national newspapers earlier in the year click here.

In March 2009, the Code of Practice Committee published guidance on the subject of suicide reporting, responding to the PCC’s experience in this area click here.

For further information, please contact Stephen Abell on 020 7831 0022.

7/5/09