The media development agency made an appeal in connection with discontent caused by the wide lighting of suicide facts in the media. According to the agency, the shortcomings allowed from the point of view of journalistic ethics when working on news about suicides, in particular, minors suicide, cause concern and discontent among the population.
“We want to emphasize that, as indicated in the” editorial policy and the rules of professional ethics “recommended by the Council on audiovisual media and the media development agency for all media entities in April of this year, the description of the news about suicide attempts should not cause imitation of imitation .
Disclosure of the method of suicide and the details of the incident, the removal of this into the headlines, etc. is undesirable. This is by no means an indicator of journalistic professionalism.
violence, suicide and other information associated with negative manifestations for the health and safety of people should be properly covered, it is impossible to allow the promotion of this.
In this case, information (including images) should not be used, harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual development of vulnerable groups of the population, children and minors. We consider it necessary to remind you that the requirements provided for by the Law of the Azerbaijan Republic “On the Protection of Children from harmful information.”
should be strictly observed in relation to children.
We must not forget that professional media fulfill such an honorary and responsible mission as informing the population with socially significant information. We urge the media not to forget about our responsibility to the public and observe professional ethics when covering materials related to suicides and other similar news, ”the appeal says.