K&R chapter 18

Question 1

what are the arguments for and against reporting suicides

Answer 1

shouldn’t be reported, word gets around, doesnt have to printed for archive - family shouldnt have to deal with iti again and again

dont for the survivors, ten less people that have to deal with it

do it: the more info that gets out the better , report fully

Question 2

dos of reporting suicide

Answer 2

do demand that vital sources of info about suicides are continued and be sure to study them
do put emphasis on the living (help suicidal person, or on those trying to cope with loss)
do acknowledge the possibility that reports of suicide may encourage people at risk to question their shaky hold on life

Question 3

don’ts of reporting suicide

Answer 3

don’t report it as entertainment
don’t suggest by the frequency and quantity of prominent coverage that suicide almost exclusively befalls people in their teens and 20s
don’t appear to sell the so-called rational suicide or assisted suicide as ultimate civil rights appropriate for all

Question 4

1976 policy failed on four fronts

Answer 4

more than 3/4 of suicides went unreported
ethics of newspapers ran ran into ethics of readers
news began to worry about impact of reporting on suicide on those who may be considering it
manner in which understaffed newsroom encourages newspaper to focus its feature reporting on certain suicide patterns while ignoring others