Bondi Junction stabbings: Did guidelines for responsible reporting on mental illness and crime work?

This article examines if Australian media guidelines for reporting on mental illness in the context of crime were successfully implemented by the media in 2024 after the tragic events at Bondi Junction Shopping Centre. The incident was the first major news event featuring a person with complex mental illness after the publication of new Mindframe guidelines in 2020. We conducted an analysis of the television and text-based news coverage in Australia and asked, ‘Did mainstream media coverage of the Bondi stabbing adhere to newly established guidelines on ethical reporting of complex mental illness?’ We found some news organizations had implemented the best practice reporting that worked to de-stigmatize mental illness, but a significant amount of content was clearly stigmatizing towards people with complex mental illness. We concluded that more needs to be done to help experts and journalists understand the importance of the guidelines, which seek to provide a balanced and accurate view of people who live with complex mental illness and to encourage help-seeking behaviour.<p></p>