I disagree.
The death deserves sensational attention.
These people *should*
be "noticed in death."
As for contgaion, I am uncertain if data
fully supports this conclusion.
Such vivid awareness may also
serve as a catharsis,
or aversion.
"Problems with this article
This article from the New York Post is an egregious example of the kind
of reporting on suicide that has been shown to create contagion
(copycat suicides).
The lurid published photograph of the victim on the front page,
capturing her image as she fell from the building, and the front page
headline "Death Plunge #4: NYU's Grief" reflect an attempt to use
this tragic death as an opportunity to sell newspapers.
Because the three previous NYU suicide deaths this academic year were
all by jumping, pictures and text dramatizing this method are
particularly likely to encourage imitation.
Such coverage encourages those who are vulnerable to feel that they
will be noticed in death. The use of the word "plunge" in the
front-page headline (which was also used twice in the story as well)
tends to sensationalize and dramatize the death."
http://www.afsp.org/education/recommendations/3/22.html
Twittering One - 23 Sep 2005 04:38 GMT
Although, as always, a good report
should include 2 expert opinions to contexualze
a serious subject, which this article
fails to do.
I have seen none others following
the NYU suicide spree.
I find that an egregious omission.
lavenlight@hotmail.com - 23 Sep 2005 06:50 GMT
I have not seen the article, but I did study suicide last semester in
an independent study, and although contagion is not really proven well,
clusters do form, and news sources generally should shy away from
sensationalizing or romanticizing suicide.