From Pride to Lies: English-Language Print Media Coverage of Supreme Court of Canada Decisions on Women's Defensive Violence.

The article examines Canadian print media coverage of four Supreme Court of Canada cases involving women's defensive violence in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). It finds that while the amount of legal discussion in news stories remained consistent over time, the quality and tone of coverage declined, particularly in the case of R. v. Ryan, where media—especially the National Post—adopted a more hostile stance toward the woman involved and questioned her credibility. The study highlights that media reliance on sources such as police correlated with less sympathetic coverage of women, whereas quoting anti-violence advocates and feminist legal experts led to more favorable portrayals. Overall, the article underscores the media's significant role in shaping public understanding of IPV and legal responses, noting concerns about the influence of biased sources and shifting media landscapes on the portrayal of women defending themselves against abuse.