It is common decorum in the media industry that ‘we don’t s#!$ on each other’ (this is not always respected) but we choose to always be mindful of its consequences.
That’s because you never know when you’re going to need each other and secondly you’re all working towards the common interests of informing the public on what is happening around them to assist people to make well informed decisions, to keep safe, build awareness on issues affecting everyday living and holding authorities to account – hence the popular metaphoric connotation likening the media as the ‘Watchdog’ of any society.
This piece therefore, must accompany a disclaiming clause – that it is written not from my professional interests as a resident journalist, writer, representative of a local Samoan broadcasting body, or fellow budding resident media member!
I have had the privilege of holding two different professions, and in my current role with the department of Community Corrections, I hold an important hat that is close to me, that being a ‘Mental Health and Suicide Awareness’ specialist, I am also a Suicide Prevention/Awareness advocate of one of the largest Pasefika community agencies in New Zealand – Le VA.
I also pen this not as the views or opinion of a representative of the Department of Corrections, or an Advocate of Le Va – but as a genuine advocate of Suicide Awareness and Mental Health, a sympathetic supporter of the LGTBQI communities, a friend and a relative to many transgenders and a concerned member of society. This is my own opinion alone.
One could simply not avoid the disturbing uproar that rocked social media yesterday for Samoans local and abroad over the Samoa Observer article highly sensationalising a fallen young transgender who died of suspected death by suicide.
UNDP guidelines around accepted reporting of suicide stories in the media are very clear. The Australian Press Council and New Zealand guidelines around the matter are also very similar. Some of the main guidelines state:
1. The methods of the incidents must not be highlighted in details
2. Consent from the deceased’s families must be sought before publishing or airing a story
3. The location of the incident should not be named
4. A coroner’s report must first prove that the death was in fact by suicide before a story may be published (NZ laws have changed in this respect just last week and the media no longer have to wait for that report if the evidence is palpable)
5. Sources giving opinions on the deceased must be immediate family alone with their consent
6. The suicidal jargon must be sensitively selected
7. Sensationalism in any way or form is strongly advised against
8. The story should in some way support public interest – for example a report on decline of rates, or it involved bullying (to create awareness)...
9. There should be information for the public to know where to seek help and support around counselling etc
Unfortunately for the family of Jeanine who is a transgender, the article published by the Samoa Observer – in my opinion, did not follow those guidelines. It also failed to acknowledge her rightful human right to choose to be called Jeanine and to be referred to as a woman by referring to her as a man throughout the article. Furthermore, it went on to publish a lifeless photo of Jeanine on its front page.
Then to add salt to the wound, the Samoa Observer then posted a ‘Think A minute’ opinion piece without a writer’s by-line, talking about homosexuality as a choice rather than a biological hormonal change, raking up researched evidence to support its views and then referencing biblical beliefs to solidify that it is a wrong and sinful choice.
Then as if this doesn’t get any worse, the New Zealand Herald published a story stating that the Samoa Editor in Chief of the Samoa Observer (a former boss and a journalist who’s work and contribution to media development in the Pacific I respect – If I may add) was quoted apologising to their readers for their call to publish the photo – but he then minimises and justifies the poor call of judgement using yet again religious and political views.
An apology is not genuine if one must need to justify it.
It would have been a much more admirable and gracious move to admit defeat, take responsibility for the lapse of judgement, retract all the published papers from all their outlets – cut their losses and move on to other stories.
Well, what do I know – I have never been the Editor in Chief of a daily paper.
I am however a Suicide Prevention/Awareness advocate and specialist, and I know too well the complications, impact, suffering, and detrimental effects that that story will have on Jeanine’s family, her friends and loved ones, society overall, young people, and the media’s integrity in general. I know the well calculated, analysed and researched evidence of the effects that such a story will have on our rainbow or LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual,Transgender,Queer and Intersex)communities, who statistics and research have highlighted to be the most ‘at risk’ members of society when it comes to suicide - worldwide.
This is not surprising given the challenges that our rainbow sisters and brothers have to face on a daily basis around their choices of identities and sexualities. The judgement of religious and cultural expectations from society and in some cases their own aiga of their choices going against the ‘expected’ norms, can be overwhelmingly difficult, depressing, frustrating, scary, ugly, violent and can lead to despair, loss of hope, loss of trust, isolation, and unfortunately for some, suicide becomes a choice they opt to take to end their suffering because as reports of survivors - I’ve come across often commonly state, they felt ‘there was no other way out’.
Media reporting on suicide have been strongly linked to research that supports spikes in suicide deaths and suicide ideation amongst youth and rainbow communities. Copy cat suicide methods have been researched as one of the most common products of irresponsible and poorly constructed media reports.
Pacific and Maori young people between the ages of 17 – 24 are the highest numbers of death by suicide statistics in New Zealand alone. New Zealand itself is right up the top of the ladder with its suicide deaths per annum in comparison to other countries of the Pacific, with deaths by suicide being higher than the car accident tolls yearly.
Samoa is no different.
But what is more concerning for Samoa is that it is such a small country geographically, that the power of the media and social media is even more stronger and felt in more force as compared to bigger countries. Whatever mainstream media puts out – becomes viral almost instantly.
Which brings me to ask - what are the responsibilities of mainstream media to its public, aside from the obvious?
I read on Face Book statuses of mothers asking their friends and families to refrain from reposting the pictures for fear of their children who are on facebook being exposed to the story and the horrifying sad picture used.
I read another mother stating that her five year old daughter asked her about the picture and she did not know how to respond without having to lie to her child to prevent violating her innocence.
I read statuses from some members of the local rainbow communities expressing expected anger and threatening to use violence against the paper. A response I do not support nor condone, but is naturally expected of human nature. (This is not the solution if you are fa’afafine and reading this my friends).
I read a whole lot of anger, frustration, sadness, disgust, confusion and violence.
I read a community mourning the loss of a beautiful soul, whose memory and story and family have been violated by a simple act of inconsideration.
A soul and her family who did not have the choice to give consent for her lifeless picture to be published on the front page of the country’s most widely circulated paper.
A soul who’s choices, struggles, relationship problems were published for all to read without her consent to the violation of her privacy.
No. Those choices were wrongfully taken away from Jeanine and her family.
I read a community in anger. I read conflicting views and opinions.
I read a watch dog telling their audience that it was religiously wrong to be a homosexual. Disrespecting and unravelling (whether intentionally or not) decades of advocacy work of human rights activists worldwide, who have worked so hard and some even died- to create awareness on homosexuality and rainbow issues to have their rights and voices heard and respected.
I read confusion. I read distrust. I read unrest. I read highly possible spikes of suicide ideation. I read fear.
A responsible watch dog must take into account the public’s interests as paramount.
That is, ALL members of the public, straight or rainbow, religious or not.
Accountability and solutions:
The media is so powerful in that the message it portrays can change and influence people’s perceptions, beliefs, knowledge, choices and decisions. That is why it is paramount that the media is held accountable for the messages and the information it puts out.
To date I believe the only governing media body in Samoa – the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa JAWS is an old dog with a very soft bark. It is hardly active.
Aside from the Government, there is no Media body that the mainstream media in Samoa is being made accountable to.
Who monitors the calls, decisions, reports and actions of the media in Samoa? Who decides whether a member of the public has been wronged by the media aside from having to go through a Court case for defamation claims which often some do not have the financial resources to explore?
The Office of the Ombudsman may be an option however, JAWS and the Government of Samoa if anything good must come out of this must formulate a Governing Media Council where experienced and senior journalists preside to regulate and set up policies and guidelines to monitor the work of mainstream media in Samoa and hold their ethics and standards of practise to account.
It is not a gag on Freedom of Expression. Far from it.
If the media so freely and frequently accuses the government of having no one to be accountable to – then it must also look within and amongst its own practises and ask the same questions of itself.
Freedom of Expression does not mean – reporting stories as it pleases and then justifying apologies to suit their own agendas. The media must be held accountable for its responsibilities to the best interests of its audience and society.
If anything good must come out of this sad unfortunate incident – it should be the establishment of a body to regulate, guide, monitor and hold the media to account.
Every other politically stable and democratic country in the world has one – and Samoa is one of those countries and it’s a feature of our nation that makes us proud people.
Australia has the Australian Press Council and various other bodies. New Zealand has the Broadcasting Commission, and active Kiwi Journalists Association bodies and Press councils etc. To name a few.
Let Jeanine’s memory rest – and may our media bodies learn from this story and move forward to exude better journalism practices.
If you need support please contact Fa’ataua Le Ola lifeline if you’re in Samoa.
In NZ we have 0800 LIFELINE, LE VA, Mental Health, and various other agencies in the community you can access to seek support and help.
And remember – always choose LIFE.
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