Reporting on Suicide: An Examination of Suicide Coverage by U.S. Student Newspapers.

This article examines how college student journalists cover suicide in campus newspapers, focusing on their adherence to professional guidelines developed by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Associated Press (AP), and Reporting on Suicide. Analyzing 537 articles from 51 student newspapers between 2019 and 2021, the study found that while student journalists generally avoided sensationalizing suicide and followed many recommended practices, they frequently used the phrase "committed suicide," included the word "suicide" in headlines, and often failed to provide suicide prevention resources. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating suicide-reporting guidelines into journalism education to improve ethical coverage, reduce stigma, and minimize potential harm to vulnerable readers. The study also notes that student journalists tend to focus more on mental health awareness and prevention rather than breaking news of suicide deaths.