Reporting Poverty in the UK: A Practical Guide for Journalists

"It is not the job of the media generally to solve the problem of poverty or to take sides in the political tussle over it....But [b]y explaining it, we may make the public more understanding and aware. That, in turn, could lead to politicians being encouraged to take decisions which would make life better for everyone."

This guide provides journalists with an overview of poverty in the United Kingdom (UK), highlights the dilemmas they face in covering it, and suggests ways in which the subject can be dealt with fairly and authoritatively. A joint effort between the UK-based organisations Society of Editors and the Media Trust, the resource was published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. These collaborators share the view that, although stories about poverty concern people who are potential audience, media organisations do not give enough attention to poverty and inequality; nor do they report sensitively about disadvantaged communities. "When the latest pictures arrive of pestilence, natural disaster, disease or famine, the media responds with immediacy and sensitivity and cash flows in to charities. It is more difficult to convey the long-running, grinding disadvantage experienced by people who may not be living quite so obviously in poverty and despair in the UK."

Developed with input from a range of groups dealing with poverty issues and a series of seminars involving journalists from newspapers, television, and radio, as well as experts on the subject and people experiencing poverty, the resource includes:

• definitions of poverty;
• facts and statistics relating to poverty;
• discussion of the reporting challenge, along with practical approaches to tackling stereotypes and prejudice;
• case studies showing how journalists have tackled poverty issues;
• contact details for relevant organisations; and
• sources of further information.

More specifically, to write about poverty, journalists need to understand it, so a section of the resource is dedicated to unpacking the problem. As Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) says, "poverty has most commonly been measured primarily in terms of income and of material and social deprivation, including, more recently, measures of social exclusion. But increasingly poverty is seen as a more multi-dimensional concept incorporating aspects of, for example, psychological well being, such as mental health and shame."

Stories on poverty often depict protagonists as heroes, victims, or villains, according to the guide. Whether it regards a man who managed to lift himself out of poverty and become a millionaire, a family falling into poverty, or a single mother claiming benefits though she could work, the hero/victim/villain frames are described here as an oversimplification of reality. They are misleading to readers and put the blame or the merit on individuals, failing to acknowledge the economic and social structures within which they operate. These frames are also unfair towards the protagonists, who might not recognise themselves in the category assigned.

Some takeaways for journalists:

• Build trust - People may not just tell them their life story straight away, because poverty can be a very difficult subject to talk about, especially the fear of being judged by others who will read the story.
• Respect interviewees - The social stigma around poverty can make people reluctant to be interviewed and embarrassed to have their name and photo associated with it. If interviewees do not want their names disclosed, journalists should accept this. There are also ways of concealing the identity of a person in a photo without pixelating it, such us portraying a person drinking from a cup that partially covers the face.
• Avoid existing prejudices: the deserving and undeserving poor - The insistence on the narrative of "hard-working families" proposed by politicians and repeated by the media - as the guide explains - implies that "those who don't work, for whatever reason, are less deserving and that those who do have few problems."
• Seek help from civil society organisations - They can help journalists with resources, material, and sources. If needed, one of their representatives could come along to the interview to make sure that the interviewees are not exploited and are comfortable with talking to reporters.
• Use individuals' stories but explain the broader issue - Though it can prompt empathy, the story of an individual in itself is not able to show the extent of the issue within its wider context. Research on data, causes, and perspectives is the key not to focus just on the symptoms.
• Choose words carefully - "Impoverished", "poverty-stricken", and "handouts" are highlighted as stigmatising by the guide. It suggests using instead more neutral words such "people in poverty", "people on a low income", and "people receiving/in receipt of benefits".
• Make connection - Many of the stories we read about every day are tightly linked with poverty: physical and mental health, disability, violence, and poor quality housing, among others. "Individual stories have the power to shed light on these wider problems, but they will only do that if the link is made between the facts of the story – for example, educational under-achievement – and its fundamental causes. Simply by making that connection, journalists can raise awareness of the issues around poverty."
• Use a constructive approach - Articles on issues related with poverty usually leave readers overwhelmed or powerless. Rigorous reporting about how people are responding to social problems can not only inform and engage the community but also advance positive social change.