Reporting of terrorist attacks should change, say victims

The Survivors Against Terror group has said that the way media organisations report on terrorist attacks needs to change, after some were harassed and left ‘traumatised’.

A survey of more than 100 people who had survived attacks found that intrusion by journalists was ‘endemic’.

A new report has urged media outlets to sign a voluntary agreement on approaching bereaved families, and to change the way photos of attacks, victims and terrorists are used to help reduce distress.

The Survivors Against Terror report also calls for a ‘survivors support hub’ to provide independent information, with the power to exclude media that breach the guidelines from press briefings and interviews.

Brendan Cox, whose wife, Jo, was murdered in Batley, West Yorkshire, in 2016, said: “Reporting on terror attacks is clearly in the public interest. What isn’t in the public interest is routine intrusion, spreading fear and sharing terrorist propaganda. While there are some great examples of responsible media reporting there are too many instances of media coverage causing deeper pain to survivors while furthering the aims of the terrorists by amplifying their hatred.

“The coverage of the recent murder of Sir David Amess MP was markedly different from the previous attacks, with much less profile given to the alleged attacker. We hope that this is an early sign of media organisations thinking more deeply about how to cover such attacks.”

Prof Chris Frost, the chair of the ethics council of the National Union of Journalists, said: “While the NUJ is sympathetic to the survivors’ concerns and certainly cannot condone the harassment of witnesses and the bereaved, many of the report’s recommendations are unrealistic and a danger to the freedom of speech.

“We are disappointed that the survivors’ group didn’t consult with the NUJ for advice during this process. We welcome the setting up of a survivors’ hub to assist those involved in terror events or disasters, but not with the powers proposed by this group. It is important to cover fully such events and to do so sensitively and responsibly with the exercise of editorial judgment informed by the NUJ code of conduct. The NUJ is happy to work with anybody to achieve that.”