Journalist Tipsheet: Reporting on Gender-Based Violence in Europe

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Understanding the Data Collection Methods

Major Sources of Data

• EIGE Data

  • What it Offers: Data on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) such as femicides, rapes, and four types of IPV: physical, sexual, economic, and psychological.
  • Why It Matters: This source comprehensively examines gender-based violence, allowing reporters to investigate specific kinds of abuse.

• Eurostat

  • What it Offers: Provides general statistics like EU population data and causes of death.
  • Why It Matters: This can offer context when discussing gender-based violence rates in relation to the overall population or other forms of violence.

• EDJNET Partners

  • What it Offers: Supplementary data which is cross-verified against EIGE and Eurostat.
  • Why It Matters: More data sources provide a richer, more nuanced analysis.

Key Limitations You Should Know

• Different Methodologies

  • Why It Matters: Direct comparisons between countries can be misleading due to methodological differences.

• Various Definitions

  • Why It Matters: Disparate definitions can result in skewed perceptions of the issue.

• Focus of Counting

  • Why It Matters: Understanding what is counted can drastically change the interpretation of the data. Some countries record IPV offenses based on the number of perpetrators, while others count number of victims.

• Requirement of Official Complaints

  • Why It Matters: This can result in underreporting and misrepresentation of the actual scope of violence.

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Tips for Data Analysis

• Focus on Rates, Not Just Numbers

  • Why It Matters: Rates standardize data, making it more comparable across different population sizes.

• Percentage Change

  • Why It Matters: This helps in understanding the trend and severity of the issue over time.

• Comparison Metrics

  • Why It Matters: Such metrics provide insights into how seriously countries are treating these crimes in legal terms.

• Journey from Violence to Shelter

  • Why It Matters: Understanding the survivor's journey allows journalists to report more deeply on systemic issues and individual experiences, thereby presenting a fuller picture of the complexities involved.

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Consider the Vulnerabilities of Survivors

• Protecting Identities

  • Why It Matters: Safety and consent are paramount. Revealing identities can risk lives and discourage others from speaking out.

• Trauma-Informed Reporting

  • Why It Matters: A sensitive approach encourages trust and makes it more likely that survivors will share their stories.

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Ethical Considerations

• Verify Before Publishing

  • Why It Matters: Misinformation can undermine the credibility of an important issue and harm those involved.

• Content Warnings

  • Why It Matters: Content warnings provide readers the opportunity to brace themselves or opt out of triggering material.

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Strategies for Balanced Reporting

• Diverse Voices

  • Why It Matters: Varied viewpoints add depth and comprehensiveness to your story.

• Fact-Check With Multiple Sources

  • Why It Matters: Multiple sources add credibility and can fill in gaps or correct inconsistencies.

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Useful Tools and Resources

• Methodology Post on iMEdD.org

  • Why It Matters: This helps journalists understand the strengths and weaknesses of the source data, which can inform their own analyses and reports.

• GitHub Repository

  • Why It Matters: Journalists can use this to perform their own analyses or to cross-check facts and figures in their reports.

• Story by MIIR

  • Why It Matters: This can serve as an example of how to turn data into a compelling and informative story.

• Reports by EDJNET Partners

  • Why It Matters: These add extra layers of context and perspective, enriching your understanding and coverage of the issue.

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