The recent school shooting in the country raises the need for greater care in reporting such incidents.
The incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University junior high school was not only a story about violence inside a campus. It was also a test of whether the news coverage did not cause further harm to the schoolchildren.
Reporting on the incident, in which a minor student shot and killed a classmate before committing suicide, showed some good media practices. But there were still instances of reporting that may have added to the harm.
Several reports withheld the children’s names and did not use photos or videos of injured or terrified students. Instead, they showed the school building, its exterior, and police personnel responding to the emergency. Many also placed warnings about the disturbing nature of the content.
Other reports carried the call of the Department of Education to stop circulating photos and videos of the incident, respect the privacy of individuals and families involved, and rely only on verified information.
These were responsible ways that helped ensure media did not add to the trauma.
Some content creators and social media users, however, were a different matter. They shared photos of the alleged shooter in uniform, and photos and videos of the incident.
It was valid to ask about motive and how the shooter was able to get his father’s firearm. But there was no need to name the child, show his photo, or give details of the father’s government position in a way that could lead to the child’s identification.
Republic Act 9344, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, provides guidance for media in covering children in conflict with the law. It protects children from aggressive or exploitative media coverage, and states that undue or sensationalized publicity violates their rights. It also requires authorities to conceal information that could lead to the child’s identity, whether as victim, witness, or perpetrator.
Too many details about the incident also served little purpose. Some reports reconstructed the student’s movement through the building. What the public needed to know was that firearms were brought into the school, passed through security, and were used to kill a student.
The student streamed the attack on social media. Repeating, reposting, or reconstructing what happened only added to the spectacle. It could also encourage others to search for the original footage or even give people ideas on how to go about a shooting.
Because the student died by suicide, standards for reporting suicide should apply. The World Health Organization warns that detailed or sensationalized media reports may contribute to imitation, particularly when they describe the method used.
In cases of children involved in crimes, whether as victims, witnesses, or perpetrators, it is best to exercise greater restraint. Journalists have to get their facts right, but they must also consider whether publishing details or photos or interviews adds to the harm already suffered by children.