Needed: A guide for media coverage of domestic violence

Domestic violence is a serious social problem that can only be properly addressed by policy makers if the public has accurate information about the nature and extent of the problem. Only the media has the ability to educate the public. Studies of media coverage identify areas in which reporting can be improved. Domestic violence advocates in three states have produced media guides and there is some evidence that the existence of such guides results in improved media coverage. This thesis proposes that the current state of scholarly research allows for the creation of a generic media guide that can be adapted easily to address the specific needs of any community.