WiJ Scotland workshop highlights key issues for reporting on violence against women
Photo from A Thousand words' commissioned by Scottish Womens Aid and Zero Tolerance. Copyright Laura Dodsworth
How do we report violence against women appropriately and effectively? That’s the question WIJ Scotland’s latest workshop set out to answer.
Or at least start to answer - everyone involved agreed this is a huge subject and something that WIJ Scotland may well return to and develop.
The speakers were Jo Zawadza from Zero Tolerance, Claire Thomson from Rape Crisis Scotland and Nyla Khan from Universal Truth. Chair was former WIJ Scotland chair Cat McPhee, who is currently working on a documentary in this area.
Zero Tolerance and Rape Crisis Scotland are the two organisations journalists would turn to for help with a story about violence against women. The former is a campaigning and policy organisation while the second also offers frontline support to women.
Universal Truth was set up by Khan to support women who are victims of forced marriage.
The session covered a lot of ground. There is a whole list of resources below for further reading. But some key takeaways for journalists covering these stories are:
When you write or broadcast a story about violence against women, remember there will be victims reading or watching.
Always signpost support agencies. Your article or broadcast might bring back memories of historic abuse, or prompt someone to report what happened to them.
Be aware of how important language is. Rape isn’t something that happens - it’s something that is done by someone else. The perpetrator chose how to act. Using the passive voice can make it sound inevitable and depersonalise the crime.
Watch out for victim blaming such as references to what someone wore, how much she drank and so on.
Avoid using issues such as the perpetrator’s alcohol and drug use or mental health as excuses. These can escalate a situation but they are not the cause.
When working with case studies, be aware of what a huge thing you are asking them to do. Make sure they are aware of where their story will be used, will it be online, will it be shared across an outlet’s different platforms.
Be very aware of the dangers of jigsaw identification. For example, by describing someone’s clothing or jewellery it might be possible for a small community to work out who it is.
An online recording of the workshop is available to buy - please contact wijscotland@gmail.com
Resources and further reading:
Rape Crisis Scotland helpline details for signposting:
Helpline open 5pm - midnight every night
Helpline phone support: 08088 01 03 02
Helpline email support: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Helpline text support: 07537 410 027 (our text number will show bills)
Helpline webchat support: www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Zero Tolerance advice for journalists, helplines and free stock images https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/work-journalists/
Level UP's guidance on reporting domestic homicides:
Expert organisations that can be contacted for comment (including Pass the Mic - database of women of colour commentators in Scotland): https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/expert-organisations/
Rape Crisis Scotland article, How to report sexual assault trials responsibly, by Brenna Jessie and Karen Boyle: https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/news/how-to-report-sexual-assault-trials-responsibly/