Media Subcommittee

"News reporters sometimes inadvertently misinform the public about domestic violence through their coverage of this crime. Headlines about domestic violence often minimize the violence as a “dispute,” or portray the death as a fault of the victim or of both parties."  -Georgia Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project

 Goal: Domestic Violence task forces should assign a subcommittee to monitor local media reporting on domestic violence cases.

Objectives:

• Task forces should respond directly to the reporter responsible for the story by phone or email to offer feedback (both positive and negative, as warranted) on these stories.
• Task forces should seek to make these contacts part of an ongoing relationship with their local media.
  

Goal: Domestic Violence task force should take an active role in using the media to help change perceptions the public has about domestic violence.

Objectives:

• Task force members should submit letters to the editor in order to educate the public about domestic violence. Several sample letters are available from the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. Please contact Jennifer Thomas at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to receive electronic copies of these sample letters. These letters are available for use by the task forces. There is a section where local task force information can be added to promote the local task force. 
  

Example topics of letters that could be submitted are:

• Georgia 6^th in the Nation
• Domestic Violence Homicide
• Dating Violence (Adults/Parents, School Newspaper)
• Workplace Violence
• “Why Does She Stay”
• Warning Signs
• Religion and DV
• Effects on Kids
• Economic Abuse
• Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender and DV
• Disabilities and DV
• Stalking
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• DV Homicide – Suicide