The Brisbane Times reported that a man was charged with torture, deprivation of liberty, contravening a domestic violence order, and three counts of serious assault to police after allegedly torturing a woman in Brisbane last Friday.
Given that it only happened a couple of days ago and police would still be gathering evidence, you wouldn’t expect journalists to know a lot of details, or be able to report them even if they did know.
You would (and should) expect them to know that people were involved in this alleged crime. A man was charged and a woman was taken to hospital. This information is in the article, which means there is no valid reason to erase it from the headline.
I know people can see it – if they click in and if they read the whole article. If all people see is the headline (and that’s a lot more than the people who read the whole article) they see nothing about the people involved. The man who was charged and the woman who is in hospital are erased and invisible.
Is that the purpose of reporting on men’s violence against women?
Want to know more about the myths that contribute to this?
BOOKS
Jane Gilmore’s books, Fixed it: Violence and the Representation of Women in the Media, Teaching Consent, and Fairy Tale Princesses Will Kill Your Children are available now with free shipping inside Australia if you purchase from: www.JaneGilmore.com/books
PODCAST
Also available now is the Fairy Tale Princesses Will Kill Your Children Podcast in which Jane invites expert guest on the show to explore agism, women’s unpaid work, consent, power and silence, and coercive control. Find out more here.
FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the media’s constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it – even $5 a month makes a big difference – please consider becoming a Patron
Helplines
1800 RESPECT
Sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling and support.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ph: 1800 737 732
www.1800respect.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ph: 1300 659 467
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Kids Helpline
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 1800 55 1800
www.kidshelp.com.au
Men’s Referral Service
Support for men who use violence and abuse.
7 days a week
Ph: 1300 766 491
https://ntv.org.au/get-help/
