Society director Bob Satchwell defended media coverage of the Bridgend suicides on Radio 4’s Today programme.

The debate centered on whether press coverage was potentially harmful and could have breached PCC guidelines.

Responding to Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon’s suggestion that the national press had broken the code by revealing too much detail about the specific causes of death, Satchwell said: “Editors have worked very closely with the PCC and other organisations such as the Samaritans over a number of years to strengthen the PCC guidelines.”

He added: “It would be ridiculous not to say what the cause of death was although the Codes do caution against reporting too much detail. 

“The Samaritans say we need to let young people know how to seek help. Surely that is one of the great positive benefits of media coverage: telling people and their parents or friends that there are ways of seeking help and warning the parents of vulnerable people that there are issues that need to be addressed.” 

In response to suggestions that coverage had broken the code, Satchwell added: “I checked with the PCC last night and they had received no complaints about this series of cases. What is more I think that it has been quite clear over the last year that reporting has been better on this subject.” 

He added: “There was a heavily publicised case where the PCC found against a paper in the north of England last year. That got a lot of publicity and has made editors very aware of the new rules and the problems.” 

Satchwell also pointed out that the society is working with other organisations to produce reporting guides about mental health issues including suicide.

Madeleine Moon said: “The only reason the PPC has had no complaints is because they have not received my report yet.”

She added: “It concerns me if Mr Satchwell represents the press and he thinks that labeling the whole community ‘death town’ or ‘suicide town’ is responsible.  Not one of those reports contains advice on how to seek help.” 

Satchwell said afterwards: “Sadly there was no chance to refute the MP’s claims. Most reports I have read did carry a link to the Samaritans. She seemed more concerned that the media had made a mistake about local government boundaries than the real issues behind the suicides. 

“There seems to be complacency on the part of the authorities. They claim there are no links between the suicides but then admit they have no precise statistics. 

“If I lived there I would want the police and other authorities to be investigating more thoroughly and addressing young people’s problems rather than attacking legitimate media coverage.”

Another great conference!

The 2009 conference was reported via a range of mediums this year. Student reporters wrote up each session, Press Association provided video and audio clips and Nick Turner of CN Group provided real time comment using the Cover It Live system. Not to mention the coverage the conference received in the national news and press.

Bob Satchwell, right, welcomes new President
Donald Martin, Editor, Sunday Post

The Society of Editors works to protect the freedom of all sectors of the media to report on behalf of the public.

Society members share the values that matter:

• The universal right to freedom of expression
• The importance of the vitality of the news media in a democratic society
• The promotion of press and broadcasting freedom and the public’s right to know
• The commitment to high editorial standards