CPU supports suicide prevention strategy

27 April 2005

Media Release

CPU supports suicide prevention strategy

The Commonwealth Press Union (NZ) section (CPU) supports Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton’s initiative to develop protocols on the reporting of suicide.

Chairman of the CPU’s New Zealand Media Freedom Committee, Tim Pankhurst, welcomed the plan for a meeting in early May between Ministry of Health officials and media officials as the first step in developing protocols for the reporting of suicide in the media.

“Suicide is a highly sensitive and difficult area to report. Editors throughout both print and broadcast media are keen to establish protocols which recognise this sensitivity, while providing the opportunity for society to discuss and help reduce the disturbing incidence of suicide” said Mr Pankhurst.

Mr Pankhurst is Editor of The Dominion Post.

ENDS

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