A BSTRACT Background: Sexual violence is a significant issue in India that frequently makes headlines. Research from various countries has identified shortcomings in media reporting on violence against women, such as victim-blaming, sensationalism, focusing on isolated incidents, and neglecting the broader societal context. These issues have led to the creation of numerous guidelines for media coverage of violence against women. However, there has been limited scholarly research on how the country’s media reports on sexual violence. Aim: To assess how these accounts of sexual violence in online news media reports portrayed the harmful and protective aspects of sexual violence. Material and Methods: A study was conducted on 240 cases of sexual violence reported in Indian online news sources, including 80 articles in English, 80 in Malayalam, and 80 in Hindi. Using a specially designed questionnaire based on the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for reporting on such incidents in the media, the study focused on articles related to sexual violence that included keywords such as “sexual abuse or violence in India” or “rape in India.” These reports were then evaluated to identify both harmful and protective characteristics in the news coverage of sexual violence. Results: Media reporting on sexual violence in India often fails to follow established guidelines. Reports frequently included harmful details such as demographic information (gender, age, locality, location), explicit language, inappropriate images, and descriptions of the character of survivors and perpetrators. Common issues included myths of false allegations, sensationalism, dehumanizing perpetrators, speculative reasons for the violence, and the frequent use of the term “alleged.” Most reports did not include helpline information, research findings, statistical data, or disclaimers about protecting the victim’s identity. This highlights a significant gap in responsible and ethical reporting practices in India Conclusion: Indian digital news platforms must enhance their reporting standards on sexual violence. Accurate reporting is essential for advocating institutional changes, raising public awareness, and supporting survivors. The media can combat sexual violence by adhering to ethical values, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering a culture of empathy and understanding.
Shamla et al. (Sat,) studied this question.