Earlier this week, a 21-year-old former student launched a deadly attack at his old school in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, claiming the lives of ten individuals. Following the shooting, the Austrian press council swiftly advised journalists to exercise discretion when reporting on the incident, especially regarding the victims and their families.
This push for cautious coverage comes in light of this tragedy being Austria’s most lethal attack since the war, urging the media to abstain from sharing the victims’ personal details. Strict privacy policies in Austria dictate that police only disclose the victims’ age, gender, and nationality. The Austrian Press Council, which serves as a voluntary, self-regulated body that upholds journalistic ethics, stresses that responsible journalism is crucial in situations involving violent incidents. The publication of sensitive details about victims could exacerbate the distress experienced by their families, according to Alexander Warzilek, the council’s managing director.
Journalists must adhere to a media code prioritizing privacy, particularly for minors, even during events of high newsworthiness. Claudia Paganini, a media ethics specialist from the University of Innsbruck, highlights the dual need to protect victims and shield the public, especially young audiences, from traumatic content. Tuesday’s attack at BORG Dreierschützengasse high school took the lives of nine students and a teacher, with varying ages and genders among the minors. The gunman, who ultimately took his life in a school restroom, left additional victims injured.
Paganini noted that consuming graphic news might cause long-term social harm. In northeastern Europe, journalism is regarded as a societal duty that requires accountability — a stark contrast to the U.S., where news is often treated as a commodified product. In America, coverage often personalizes tragedies by focusing on the victims, offering a narrative for their lives and promoting advocacy for plausible preventative measures against such violence, as described by Josh Hoffner, a U.S. news director.
Certain American media outlets deliberately diminish focus on the perpetrators to spotlight heroes instead, according to Amanda Crawford, a University of Connecticut journalism professor. Networks like CNN place significant efforts into comprehensively covering victims’ stories, allowing audiences to grasp the serious implications of such events, said Matthew Hilk, a senior executive at CNN. These narratives occasionally propel survivors or their families towards political activism advocating for enhanced gun laws.
Reporters in Austria who violate the ethical media guidelines, especially when covering victim stories, often face isolation within the journalistic community, highlighting a discrepancy in media practices on both sides of the Atlantic. Germany’s media landscapes employ “Witwenschütteln,” a term symbolizing relentless reporting that transgresses ethical boundaries. The handling of sensitive information, especially about victims, is a common ethical concern shared by Austria’s neighboring countries like Germany and Sweden.
For instance, the German Press Council received significant backlash after a 2015 air disaster, emphasizing the importance of journalist responsibility. In Sweden, ethical scrutiny was directed toward a reporter for questionable practices following a mass shooting incident. Anonymity rights extend to both victims and perpetrators in these countries, reinforcing measures that prevent potential sensationalism.
Austria’s enforcement of strict privacy laws concerning the perpetrator’s identification ensures a detachment from potential sensationalism. Michael Lohnegger, from the Styrian State Office of Criminal Investigation, clarified that any released personal details must be for investigative purposes only, upholding respect for privacy.
This cautious approach stems partly from historical lessons learned during WWII, where media-fueled propaganda led to societal harm. Media ethics today reflect a conscious effort to maintain responsibility, ensuring that past misuses of journalistic power are not repeated. These nations are mindful of their histories, applying lessons to present-day reporting to prevent the re-occurrence of such abuses.