Family violence reporting: supporting the vulnerable or re‑enforcing their vulnerability?

Reporting of family violence in the media is often done in ways that either sensationalise or, alternatively, minimise and trivialise the issue. This article reports on the collection and analysis of reports concerning family violence from five Australian newspapers over a 15‑week period. The research found that reporting varied significantly depending on the ethnicity, gender, age, status and/or religious affiliation of those involved. The analysis uses codes of ethics for reporting as a framework to discuss current examples of reporting about family violence cases and issues in Victoria, Australia. The research identifies opportunities for increasing community understanding of family violence and for supporting those affected through effective and ethical reporting.