PAJ President Improving Reports on Violence against Women

How the news reports gender based violence was the focus of a CAPRI story. Responding to recommendations from the research entity, Press Association of Jamaica President George Davis says work will be done to develop guidelines for responsible reporting. Davis has indicated his willingness to develop guidelines for journalists regarding gender-sensitive reporting.  

This follows recommendations made by Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) in their study “breaking news: gender-based violence in Jamaican news media.” the study began citing Jamaica as one of the most murderous countries in the world. With the second highest rate of femicide and one of the highest rates of intimate partner violence in the world, it spoke to how news writers and editors wrote without consideration for the victim. Davis says that adding disclaimers in stories about gender-based violence should become standard.

Reporter: Jhanielle Powell