Individuals affected by terror attacks are advocating for more stringent guidelines in the UK regarding the media’s coverage of such incidents | Media

Individuals affected by terrorism, including survivors and the families of those who died, are advocating for stricter media reporting guidelines following terror incidents. Some individuals found out about their loved ones’ deaths through reporters approaching their homes. A new reporting code, supported by police and media figures, advises outlets not to contact bereaved families within the first 48 hours after a loss and to instead use the police for inquiries. The guidelines also recommend media outlets coordinate requests to victims and survivors, avoid gathering outside victims’ homes, and limit focus on the names, pictures, and manifestos of terrorists. The guidance is being published in advance of the 20th anniversary of the July 7 terror attacks in London. The guidelines have the support of Ella Young, a survivor of the 2005 London bombings, who experienced reporters pursuing her for interviews in the aftermath. Additionally, Figen Murray, whose son was killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, also supports the guidelines after her daughter found out about her brother’s death from a journalist. Darryn Frost, who fought a terrorist on London Bridge with a narwhal tusk, is among those supporting the new rules. The current editors’ code of practice, overseen by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), only provides general guidelines for cases involving grief or shock. The proposed guidelines aim to help

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jul/04/survivors-call-for-tighter-uk-media-guidelines-on-reporting-terror-attacks