Media Guidelines & Safe Messaging Flashcards
7 cards from real AAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Media Guidelines & Safe Messaging flashcards as text
Which research finding most strongly supports the existence of suicide contagion through media?
Answer: The publication of Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther" was followed by a rise in suicides across Europe
The Werther Effect is named after the surge in suicides following Goethe's 1774 novel, one of the earliest documented contagion events.
When reporting on means restriction as a suicide prevention strategy, journalists should:
Answer: Explain the concept without specifying lethal methods in detail
Journalists can discuss means restriction policy without detailing specific methods, thereby informing without providing harmful information.
Which of the following is a recommended practice for social media users posting about personal loss to suicide?
Answer: Use language consistent with safe messaging and include crisis resources
Even personal posts should aim to use safe language and point followers toward crisis support rather than dwelling on method or circumstances.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline should be prominently featured in media coverage primarily because:
Answer: It connects at-risk readers or viewers to immediate support
The primary purpose of featuring 988 in media is to ensure vulnerable individuals can access immediate help after consuming potentially triggering content.
A podcast discussing a friend's suicide should AVOID which of the following?
Answer: Describing the specific method the friend used to die
Describing specific methods in any media, including podcasts, violates safe messaging guidelines and can increase contagion risk.
Which group requires EXTRA care in media portrayals of suicide due to heightened vulnerability?
Answer: Adolescents and young adults
Research consistently shows adolescents and young adults are particularly susceptible to contagion effects from suicide-related media.
How should a news organization handle a request to interview a recent suicide attempt survivor?
Answer: Ensure adequate time has passed and the person has professional support before proceeding
Survivors should not be interviewed in the acute phase; waiting ensures they have processed the event and have professional support in place.