The role of the media in raising awareness of the nature and effects of domestic abuse and the support services available to people experiencing abuse is vital. With 1 in 4 women experiencing abuse at some point in their lives, the audience / readership / colleagues will undoubtedly include thousands who are or who have experienced abuse or who are concerned about someone they know.

But social isolation being a big factor in the dynamics of an abusive relationship, people and children experiencing abuse can feel that they are alone and that they are to blame for the abuse. The media describing what is clearly – for anyone working in the field - an abusive relationship as a ‘troubled marriage’ or a ‘stormy relationship’ inaccurately conveys a degree of equality within a relationship which, in fact, involves one partner, usually male, exerting power and control over another, usually female. In failing to describe an abusive relationship as such and in failing to locate a story involving domestic abuse within the wider context of domestic abuse, the media may prevent a woman in identifying her own relationship as abusive and consequently delay her contact with support services.

Welsh Women’s Aid has prepared a Media Briefing for journalists in Wales working on domestic abuse related stories (below)