Media Guidelines for Reporting
Domestic Abuse Deaths
Every three days in the UK, a woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner. How the media covers these deaths matters — for public understanding, for bereaved families, and for prevention. Level Up produced the UK's first media guidelines on reporting fatal domestic abuse.
Why media reporting of domestic abuse deaths matters
Every three days in the UK, a woman is killed by her partner or ex-partner. Yet media coverage frequently misrepresents these killings — as isolated incidents, crimes of passion, or domestic disputes — rather than the predictable outcome of sustained coercive control.
Irresponsible reporting reinforces myths about domestic abuse, adds to the trauma of bereaved families, and reduces public pressure on institutions to act. Level Up's research found that 2 in 3 families bereaved by domestic homicide had their grieving process negatively impacted by media coverage.
These guidelines give journalists a clear, evidence-based framework for reporting these deaths accurately, responsibly, and with dignity.
AIDA: How to report domestic abuse deaths
Level Up developed the AIDA framework — four principles for responsible reporting of fatal domestic abuse. This framework underpins the media guidelines and the journalist training programme.
Accountability
Name the perpetrator's choices as choices. Domestic homicide is not a loss of control — it is the culmination of sustained, deliberate abuse. Language like "snapped" or "crime of passion" obscures this reality.
Images
Choose photographs that do not sexualise victims or humanise perpetrators at the victim's expense. Avoid "happy couple" images that centre the perpetrator. Centre the victim's identity and life.
Dignity
Focus on who the victim was — her life, relationships, achievements, and personhood — not only how she died. Bereaved families should not have to relive their loved one's death in degrading or sensationalised terms.
Accuracy
Reflect the reality of coercive control. Domestic homicide almost always follows a pattern of controlling behaviour. Reporting that treats each killing as an isolated incident misrepresents the systemic nature of the problem.
Download the full guidelines
The complete Level Up media guidelines for reporting fatal domestic abuse — including the AIDA framework, case studies, and language guidance. Endorsed by IPSO and IMPRESS. Free to download and use.
A second edition of the guidelines was published in 2024, incorporating feedback from journalists, editors, and bereaved families.
Free — no email required
The campaign to change press standards
The media guidelines are the foundation of Level Up's Dignity for Dead Women campaign — a years-long campaign to change how the UK press covers fatal domestic abuse.
Since 2018, Level Up has:
- Trained over 500 journalists in responsible reporting of domestic abuse deaths
- Delivered a petition signed by over 26,700 people to IPSO headquarters
- Submitted formal evidence to the IPSO Editor's Code Committee review calling for a specific clause on fatal domestic abuse reporting
- Secured endorsement from both UK press regulators: IPSO and IMPRESS
Journalist training
Level Up offers CPD-accredited training for journalists and newsrooms on reporting fatal domestic abuse. Training sessions are developed in partnership with domestic abuse training service AVA and feature testimony from domestic abuse survivors and bereaved families.
Sessions are co-facilitated by award-winning journalist Helena Wadia and are available for individual journalists and news teams.
To book training for yourself or your newsroom:
mediasupport@welevelup.org