自殺網路新聞報導與臺灣自殺防治法的影響 －訪談研究

Abstract

背景：過去研究顯示不適當自殺報導可能引發仿效行為，世界衛生組織提出自殺報導的相關指引以減少不適當報導。臺灣於民國108年6月19日公布施行《自殺防治法》，列出媒體不得報導或記載的五項內容，違者可處10萬至100萬元罰鍰。本研究目的為了解第一線記者對於撰寫網路自殺新聞的考量，以及《自殺防治法》對記者考量的影響。 方法：本研究採質性訪談研究法。受訪者包括十名曾撰寫過自殺報導且其報導曾於任職之媒體網路平台上刊出的記者。在資料處理上運用架構分析法進行分析 結果：記者會選擇「具特殊性」自殺事件作為報導素材（例如名人自殺），同業競爭與主管要求也會造成影響。記者個人信念（對自殺的看法與身為記者的自我期待）會成為自殺報導呈現的基底，學校訓練、從業經驗與公司調性則會加深或弱化個人信念的影響，對模仿效應的認同與否會影響記者的用字遣詞。自殺防治法的確對自殺報導產生影響，包括放棄部分選材，以及改變對自殺方法的敘述方式，但記者也提出多項困擾，包括認為規範模糊不清無所適從，報導平淡難以吸引讀者，或擔憂因此無法報導真相與社會真實，並希望有法條明確定義與違法案例可供參考。本研究亦提出以社會生態模式來歸納影響記者報導自殺的各層次因素、彼此的交互作用，以及自殺防治法造成的生態改變。 結論：記者撰寫自殺網路報導受到不同層次之因素的影響，自殺防治法的規範也在不同層次影響了自殺網路報導的產出與內容，並對記者造成挑戰。研究結果對於未來宣導自殺防治法具啟發性，例如需針對媒體從業者提供符合其需求的資訊，以協助其了解自殺防治法的立意與內涵，並做出相應調整。

Background: Past research shows that inappropriate media reporting of suicide may lead to imitative suicidal behavior. The World Health Organization has published guidelines to reduce inappropriate media suicide reporting. On June 19, 2019, Taiwan implemented Suicide Prevention Act, which includes five items related to suicide that the media should not report or record. Violators could be fined between NTD 100,000 and 1 million. This study aimed to understand the considerations of frontline journalists when writing up suicide coverage to be published on digital media outlets and the impact of Suicide Prevention Act. Methods: This qualitative study interviewed ten journalists who ever covered suicide and published their reporting on digital media outlets. The data was analyzed using the framework method. Results: The journalists would choose to cover suicide incidents with some distinct features (e.g., celebrity suicides). Whether the news report would be published was influenced by competition in the media industry and the demands from the supervisors. Journalists’ personal beliefs (own views toward suicide and the self-expectation as a journalist) would be the key to shape the reporting, while their influences would be altered by their training, experiences, and the media culture. Journalists’ views toward the imitation effect would influence their choice of wording and writing styles when covering suicide. Suicide Prevention Act had an impact of suicide media reporting – the journalist would choose to avoid reporting some suicide incidents and change the way that they described the suicide methods. The journalists also raised some concerns, such as unclear regulations of the Suicide Prevention Act on reporting suicide, not being able to attract the readers’ attention using the conventional approach to covering suicide, or not being able to report the facts about suicide. They were hoping for clearer regulations and examples to follow. The study used the socio-ecological model to summarize factors at different levels that may influence suicide reporting, their interaction, and the changes caused by Suicide Prevention Act. Conclusion: Factors at multiple levels would affect the journalists’ suicide reporting. The regulations of Suicide Prevention Act influenced the digital media suicide reporting at different levels and created challenges to individual journalists. The findings have implications for future policy communication of the Act, e.g., addressing the media workers’ need for information to enhance their understating into the intention and content of the Act for them to adjust their practices.