Media: What to Avoid

Media: What to Avoid

Studies have shown that the Media has a great influence on the public and how they see the world. It is really important to get the right kind of message across about bullying especially since the public can take information a different kind of way. Here are some pitfalls

• Overstating the Problem: There is so much discussion of bullying with false information and misleading of statistics leading it to be difficult to keep the issue in perspective. Sadly enough stories can give an inaccurate picture on the problem. Facts shown are

                              - That bullying is not an epidemic. Bullying worldwide has not increased but the awareness of bullying has this evidence needs more information. 

                              - A lot of young people do not support this type of behavior or even experience it.

                              - One type of aggressive behavior is not bullying. 

                              - Cyberbullying is less than other types of bullying. 

Creating bullying as a bigger problem spreading misinformation can spread many concerns for the public. Experts contends that reports bullying as widespread and rapidly growing can make youth and adults to see it more common and less likely to stop it. 

                             - Adults will think its common and do nothing to stop it.

                             - Everyone does it so youth will think its OK.

When people don't understand the problem they might mistaken the conclusion or turn away for the solution or make the wrong solution. Bullying is not everywhere and making that assumption can lead to overreacting and protective parents.

• Stating that bullying can cause suicide. Its actually quite complex the relationship between bullying and suicide. The Media will take many sort cuts to present bullying as the reason kids commit suicide. There are many facts to a story. An investigation will reveal the reason as to why. If bullying was involved it might of been one of the factors. https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/effects/index.html#suicide

Stories that talk about bullying and suicide can cause a belief that suicide is normal or a effect to bullying. This can cause reasons to cluster suicides. 

• Blaming those who bully. Those who are bullying are usually not mentioned in the report. The reports are usually one sided not telling the whole story. They usually are blaming the school. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html. This will prevent school officials from providing information about certain bulling cases. These will protect the youth. It will make it harder for writers to get the correct information in an incident to write the true stories. Facts should be

                               - Those who bully have usually been bullied themselves.

                               - Bullying is not a crime even when someone involved dies by suicide.

                               - Bullying happens between groups.

                               - Those who bully also need help.

If you portray those who bully in a negative way it shuts them down in a negative dialogue. Parents of those who bully may not be willing to help those in a bullying prevention. Faculty members may say they are no good. Implying bullying leads to suicide can create pressure for the public leading to lawsuits especially if someone they bullied lead them to suicide. Experts sometimes fear that those who are bullied will threaten suicide to threaten those who are bullying them. Blaming can damage them. 

• Oversimplifying issues related to bullying. The writers efforts to simplify the bullying issues for readers can sometimes be misleading. Examples for the public includes

                                - The same young person can play the role as either the bully or the victim depending on the situation.

                                - Bullying effects everyone. Its not just restricted to those that are part of the LGBTQ community. They are though at a higher risk. 

                                - One time solutions are most likely not going to work. 

Reports that excludes of real world bullying of picturing others. Myths may mislead parents and youths to miss the bullying right in front of them. Citing solutions that are unrealistic can affect the ways to prevent bullying. When people see these ways are failing they usually will give up ways trying instead of finding other solutions. People will sometimes come up with there own conclusions if they are not given the who facts about something. This can cause blaming others such as faculty members.  

• Using under related sources.Sometimes it can be hard to identify true sources and experts in bullying prevention, suicide, and other bullying topics. Spokespeople don't always have the right information but will have expertise in other fields. Teachers and other faculty members may lead to give misleading information within the media. https://www.stopbullying.gov/media/help/index.html

Having poor sources can lead to introduce inaccurate reports which can lead to views as facts.  

• Sensationalizing. Writers must write to entertain the readers. Bullying is usually not covered unless it involves serious injuries or a death among a young person which makes them news worthy. Its important for the headlines to be attention grabbing headlines. The headlines use a dramatic element in the coverage. Cyberbullying is usually sensational. 

Parents can become vary anxious or even overprotective if the most tragic results of there child is being used. This can harm the child.. Cyberbullying is stated more threatening then facts will even suggest. Preventing Bullying sometimes is focused in the wrong place then it is in others. Sensational stories about Cyberbullying can lead people to blame the use of technology instead of the person itself. 

• Excluding information. Not much research has been done on what can be done to prevent bullying not much has been shown through the media on what can be done though. The media reports are usually shown through the laws and legal aspects of it all. They also will talk about what parents can do to help there child be safe when it comes to bullying.  https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/index.html  

The lost information for strategies to prevent bullying can sometimes tell parents and youth that there is no way to prevent the problem.

Those who work in the media can avoid these problems pretty easily and provide accurate information to audiences while helping to prevent bullying.

https://www2.hws.edu/article-id-14858/
http://reportingonsuicide.org/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bullying-suicide-teens-depression_n_1247875
Sources:

“What to Avoid.” StopBullying.gov, Department of Health and Human Services, www.stopbullying.gov/media/avoid/index.html.