Different perspectives: a comparison of newspaper articles to medical examiner data in the reporting of violent deaths.
This study compared violent death information reported in state-wide newspaper articles to the medical examiner reports collected for a state public health surveillance system-the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). While suicides accounted for 83% of deaths in the NVDRS database, more than three-quarters (79%) of violent deaths reported in newspaper articles were homicides. The majority of the suicide incidents were reported in 1-2 newspaper articles whereas the majority of homicide incidents were reported in 11-34 articles. For suicide incidents, the NVDRS reported more circumstances related to mental health problems while newspaper articles reported recent crisis more often. Results show that there is a mismatch in both frequency and type of information reported between a public health surveillance system (NVDRS) and newspaper reporting of violent deaths. As a result of these findings, scientists and other public health professionals may want to engage in media advocacy to provide newspaper reporters with timely and important health information related to the prevention and intervention of violent deaths in their community.
Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, 295 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84158-1289, USA. andrea.genovesi@hsc.utah.edu
Andrea L
AL
Genovesi
Amy E
AE
Donaldson
Brynna L
BL
Morrison
Lenora M
LM
Olson
D002423:Cause of Death; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009524:Newspapers as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*