Media guidelines for the reporting of gambling and other stigmatised experiences: A scoping review with narrative summary

Media representations influence public perceptions of stigmatised conditions, with news media significantly impacting stigmatising attitudes. Limited research on interventions in media reporting of gambling harm complicates the development of best practices for reporting guidelines. This scoping review explored research on media guidelines for stigmatised conditions, including substance use, mental ill health, suicidality, and poverty. Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, alongside grey literature from Google and targeted organisation websites. Of the 57 articles included, most focused on suicide media guidelines. Guidelines across stigmatised experiences emphasised avoiding sensationalism, using non-stigmatising language, and promoting support services. Effective implementation requires training, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous feedback, while challenges include balancing journalistic freedom with ethical considerations and contextual adaptation. The review identified essential elements in news media guidelines for the selected conditions, highlighting that collaboration among media professionals, public health practitioners, and lived experience communities is crucial. Despite the absence of specific guidelines for gambling harm, the findings will inform best practices for developing evidence-based guidelines to reshape gambling-related news narratives.