A call by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)–Baguio-Benguet chapter for more responsible reporting of self-harm cases has put the spotlight on how deaths are being covered here.
The reminder comes after a 78-year-old woman died in an accidental fall from the top floor of a condominium in Baguio City last Saturday. The incident was broadcast on livestream by a broadcaster with the victim’s sprawled body visible in the background.
Another case Monday morning involving a suspected suicide, this time involving a person found inside an SUV, was also reported immediately, raising anew questions on the urgency to publish such incidents versus the need to protect the dignity and privacy of victims and their families.
The NUJP said journalists and content creators should resist the temptation to use tragedies to generate clicks, views and engagement. It warned that sensationalized headlines, graphic images, personal notes and undue prominence given to self-harm stories can cause further distress and may contribute to harmful copycat behavior.
The group stressed that the duty to inform must not come at the expense of humanity and safety. It urged newsrooms and independent broadcasters to follow the Journalist’s Code of Ethics and World Health Organization guidelines when covering deaths, particularly cases involving self-harm.
“Journalism exists to serve the public interest, not to exploit human tragedy for clicks or views,” the NUJP said, calling on media practitioners to protect life, preserve the dignity of victims and families, and ensure that coverage does not turn private grief into public spectacle.
