Media Analysis Part 3: A Review of Existing VAWG Media Guidelines
Media Analysis Part 3: A Review of Existing VAWG Media Guidelines
June 2025
Part 3 is a review of existing guidance for journalists who are reporting on Violence Against Women and Girls. We reference general guidelines from a range of bodies such as National Union of Journalists and Independent Press Standards Organisation but review more thoroughly specific guidance for reporting on domestic abuse and sexual violence from organisations including End Violence Against Women Coalition. The guidance included varies from downloadable toolkits to tangible examples of rewording headlines.
From this review we themed 6 overarching principles on reporting Violence Against Women and Girls against which we compare a sample of online article titles on strangulation in the UK in the next section.
Part 3 lays the ground work for part 4 where we will delve in to the title of articles and explore the language used to report on strangulation cases against the guidelines. We will also be releasing a podcast alongside part 4 where we speak to Suzy Mahe, who is part of the survivor group at IFAS and Sinéad Geoghegan, Head of Communications at End Violence Against Women Coalition.
Read our latest blogs on how strangulation is being depicted in the media
Survivors of strangulation are being let down when they turn on their TVs
“Why can’t popular depict strangulation accurately? The best we can seem to muster is that it’s a harmless sexual act, which is not only alarmingly inaccurate but also minimises the health risks.”
Why I Can’t Escape Non- Fatal Strangulation
” ‘I’m vanilla, baby (I don’t like no whips and chains, and you can’t tie me down) I’ll choke you, but I ain’t no killer, baby’.
Let me tell you I have heard these lyrics almost incessantly since this song was released, and every time it ruins my day.”
Blogs, resources & more
You can also browse through our online library of resources to access the latest research and data on strangulation.
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