The president of the Media Ethics Committee (EDC), Elli Kotziamani, stated that there is no absolute prohibitive instruction stating generally that “suicides are not published.” The basic direction of the Committee is that each case must be examined separately by the journalist and the respective media outlet. The journalist must weigh the information based on the Code, public interest and the story itself in order to decide whether it should be published.
The special provision of the Code states that references to suicides are generally avoided. In exceptional cases where publication is justified, Media and journalists must show the highest sensitivity and particular care. Cases that justify engagement are those that reveal responsibility of state services or other factors, as occurred correctly in the case of Stylianos.
Even in the case of the 17‑year‑old girls in Greece, where serious issues arise for examination, Media must present the issue responsibly. Ms Kotziamani stressed that the absence of a rigid prohibition does not make the guideline dangerous, as the journalist assumes responsibility for what is written. Additionally, the decision is not taken individually, as other strict provisions of the Code are also taken into account, such as the special provision for the protection of children and the provision “Mourning, grief and shock,” which defines respect for the pain of a family or group of people.
Mistakes of Greek Media
The president of the EDC pointed out that there is a huge distance between the decision “to cover” and “how to cover.” Greek Media in the case of the 17‑year‑olds made serious mistakes of dramatization, reproducing in full the note of the child and having a young journalist read it in a dramatic tone. This approach loses the essence, which should be criticism of the system and the burden students face for exams, and leads society to a blind condemnation of parents or educators. At the same time, Cypriot Media often make the mistake of reproducing material from Greek Media, violating their own ethics, under the excuse that the public already has access to it. The journalist, however, bears full responsibility for what is published.
The theory of imitation, as Ms Kotziamani stressed, is scientifically proven by mental health experts and operates in suicide in a completely different and much more dangerous way than in cases of rape or other crimes. For this reason, the EDC circulates to Media specialised guidelines and manuals sent by Mental Health and Social Welfare Services.
When news is withdrawn
In the era of internet speed, the response of Cypriot journalists is generally positive, however serious mistakes are observed due to competition. Often, instead of studying a case, they rush to transmit information first, without filtering details. In cases where a death is initially announced as “unnatural” and later confirmed as suicide, correct practice requires the withdrawal of the news. Unfortunately, Media often do not do this, nor do they remove material from past cases involving minors.
The basic advice of the president of the EDC is to avoid haste. Competition should not operate at the expense of ethics, especially in cases of human tragedy. Even when court decisions are published on sensitive matters, such as the rape of a child, the journalist must filter the tragic details so as not to become complicit in the retraumatisation of the victim. The Code is not a mechanism of punishment but a supportive tool of self‑regulation that should become part of daily work.
