In 2024, 113 women were killed, 99 of them in a domestic-affective context. Sixty-one at the hands of their partner or ex-partner. But how does the media report on femicides and gender-based violence? There has been a clear “improvement”, but there is still a long way to go. This is shown in the new Report by the independent Observatory Step-Research and Information, committed to combating stereotypes and prejudices in the representation of violence against women.
Promoted by Sapienza University of Rome, with the University of Tuscia and the Equal Opportunities Commissions of the Order of Journalists, Fnsi, Usigrai, and with Giulia Journalists, it monitors daily the coverage of violence on 25 national newspapers to verify the progress of the Venice Manifesto and contribute to a correct representation of violence against women.
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Out of a total of 25 newspapers and 3671 articles examined, as illustrated by the president of the Observatory Flaminia Saccà, Il Messaggero (9.9%), La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno (8.8%), and Il Gazzettino (7.5%) are the newspapers that shared the highest number of articles on cases of violence against women in 2024.
The month with the most content is November (14%), which also celebrates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, while May has the lowest data (2%). The majority of articles tend to focus on more than one form of violence simultaneously. In absolute terms, the most widespread is femicide (25%), followed by sexual violence (20%), personal injuries (18%), and domestic violence (17%). In 74% of the articles, the violence involves a woman who knows her attacker, who is almost always a family member (70%), while cases where there are no relationships between the two are significantly lower (23%). In 71.9% of the articles, the relationship between the couple is framed as problematic. As for the motive, the most cited include domination (46%) and jealousy-possessiveness (34%).
Less common, but still present in the media, is the crime of passion (3%). Who is given a voice? The victims (either in first person or through representatives) in 5063 cases; the offenders in 3027 cases. In the case of legal representatives, the space offered is similar. However, the victim continues to be described mainly by her demographic characteristics, rather than her perspective on violence. The offender, compared to previous observations, is starting to be highlighted: in the vast majority of cases, it is the ex-partner. Less frequently, it is the husband. He is described as jealous, violent, brutal, and occasionally cruel, fierce, aggressive, dangerous. There is also a tendency to emphasize his origins.
“The narrative approach and the terms used are important because they risk perpetuating stereotypes that can almost become mandates for the crime,” comments Mimma Caligaris, a journalist at the Step Observatory and Cpo Fnsi. “The femicide of Giulia Cecchettin was a turning point, for many girls who found the strength to ask for help, but also for us journalists. Pay attention first to the terms – she urges – Femicide is not an accident or a crime of passion. Do not use diminutives like ‘little boyfriend’ or justifying quotation marks. And no photos of happy ex-couples or children.”
“The data show how it is necessary to become aware, because language is the first step towards change,” adds Mara Pedrabissi, president of the Cpo of Fnsi. An invitation that comes “not only from the Venice Manifesto,” but also “from the Code of Ethics for journalists that will come into force on June 1 and has very serious recommendations.”
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