New resources to help journalists make a difference
As Our Watch unveils a new website with resources for journalists reporting on violence against women, CEO Patty Kinnersly highlights how responsible media can make a difference.
This week Our Watch, the national body founded to prevent violence against women, has launched a new website with a range of resources to encourage responsible reporting on gendered violence and promote gender equality in the media industry. View the website, Media Making Change, here.
Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly said responsible, evidence-based reporting had huge potential to shape the public conversation and understanding around violence against women.
“Good reporting can make a powerful difference. Responsible, sensitive reporting can be the difference between a woman staying silent, or having the courage to disclose the abuse she’s suffering, and the difference between the public accepting gendered violence as ‘just the way things are’ or understanding that it’s preventable, and we all have a role to play in ending it.”
“The media can address widespread condoning of violence against women by reporting accurately, safely and respectfully. The media can also address gender inequality, gender stereotypes and disrespect towards women through their content and in their workplaces,” Ms Kinnersly said.
Ms Kinnersly encouraged all reporters, presenters, editors and newsroom leaders, as well as journalism educators, to use Media Making Change.
“We know that overwhelmingly, the media wants to do a good job on reporting on violence against women. Many journalists have asked us for support to achieve this and we believe this website will be an important resource.”
As former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty said, ‘the media is uniquely placed to stop violence before it starts’.
The website will include the new national guidelines for reporters, developed through extensive research and consultation with media, as well as a wide range of resources for working journalists, presenters and journalism educators.
The website features:
- Key research findings on the drivers of violence against women
- Useful contacts to source for an interview
- Advice on interviewing survivors of violence
- Lecture and tutorial content and other materials for university journalism curriculum
To access guides for reporting about violence against women and their children, visit: www.mediamakingchange.org.au
“Your reporting can be the difference”
Speaking before the announcement of the 2019 Our Watch Award winner at the Mid-Year Celebration, Patty Kinnersly explained how critical good reporting can be to changing outcomes for victims of violence.
It’s an honour to be here, speaking to a large number of the nation’s best journalists. But I am thrilled to have this opportunity to talk to you, because every time you speak to your audience, you have the power to change the story that currently ends in violence against women and their children.
You will know that 71 women were murdered last year in deaths considered family violence — most by a current or former male partner. Already this year, the death toll is above 20. But I’m not here to talk about the violence. I’m here to talk about the difference you can make.
The Our Watch Award acknowledges excellence in reporting on violence against women and children. Why? Because good reporting — your reporting — can be the difference. The difference between:
- a woman staying silent, or having the courage to disclose the abuse she’s suffering
- between a perpetrator feeling like he’ll keep getting away with abuse, or seeing that behaviour like his is condemned
- between the public accepting gendered violence as “just the way things are” or understanding that it’s preventable, and we all have a role to play in ending it by promoting, normalising and celebrating gender equality.
We reward great reporting on violence against women because we know how hard it is to do.
- hard emotionally, on you the journalist and support is not always easy to find
- hard practically — with tight deadlines, the difficulty accessing survivors of violence, and complex legal considerations and
- hard professionally — reporting with nuance, and highlighting gender inequality in all its versions is wearing.
We share this experience and feel compassion for your challenge. In spite of all of that, you continue to report. And every time you do, you make a difference. You are the difference.
Our Watch has important and meaningful partnerships in many settings across our community: with sport, education, workplaces and our governments. But the media is the only setting that reaches every Australian regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation or political persuasion.
You are the omnipresent setting. Our Watch’s work with the media is a two-way street. We have learned so much from you this past year. You’ve shared your expertise with us:
- at many newsroom training sessions
- through our Fellowship program with the Walkley Foundation
- through our National Media Advisory Group and
- through extensive consultations on our reporting guidelines.
Our Watch trainers tell me they love delivering sessions to your newsrooms. You’re never afraid to ask questions that are thoughtful and thought-provoking. Your appetite to understand how you can do more to be part of the solution to violence against women is tangible and appreciated.
So I’d like to congratulate all the entrants — 47 of you — who submitted excellent work. It was difficult to separate the finalists, who topped the high-quality field. And everyone in this room for your hard work every day in the pursuit of fairness, progress, respect and equality
ABOUT OUR WATCH
Our Watch leads Australia’s work to stop violence against women and their children before it starts. The organisation was created to drive nation-wide change in the practices, norms and structures that lead to violence against women and children.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
