Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon has today welcomed the four page ‘Special Report – Reporting of Suicide’ within the Press Complaints Commission’s (PCC) 2008 review published today. The special report rightly highlights the many lessons learned over the past year with regard to reporting of suicide. This annual review builds on the launch of the second edition of The Editors’ Codebook earlier this month of which a key section was on suicide and based upon the ‘Bridgend experience’Madeleine Moon has been in regular conversation with the PCC since early last year when the media arrived in Bridgend following the cluster of suicides in the area. Since then a frank and open discussion has taken place with a number of seminars organised to debate the issues with newspaper editors, mental health experts and regulators. The annual review refers to a number of lessons learned, including that: Newspapers should avoid gratuitous detail and references that might glamorise or make light of suicide; Newspapers should be aware that the use of photographs, especially when accompanied by dramatic graphics, can cause considerable distress to families; Care must be taken to remove excessive information prior to publication – both online and offline; It is the editor’s responsibility to remove excessive detail about how the suicide was carried out. In light of both publications, Madeleine Moon has commented that: “Steps are being taken in the right direction. I was disappointed by much of the coverage of the suicides in the Bridgend area last year. Over that time I have been calling for increased awareness among editors of the hurt caused by repeated use of pictures, excessive details used, and the danger of glorifying suicide and thus the possible social contagion.  “While I would like to see further changes made, I am happy that the print media and the Press Complaints Commission have learned many lessons over the past year. I would ask that editors heed the advice of the new codebook and take a moment to ensure that articles do not include speculation, intrusion or inaccuracy. You don’t get speculation over general health issues and therefore it is right not to expect speculation over mental health issues, including those tragic incidences of suicide.”