Knife games: woman stabs lover on buttocks – The Voice

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Description

This is a feature article about a man who is stabbed by his girlfriend. He is reported as living in fear of his attacker after the police released her.

Analysis

This article highlighted the following:

– The nature of the violent relationship between the couple.

– The use of both sources relevant to this case – the couple are interviewed.

– The absence of other diverse sources impacts negatively and hinders an understanding of domestic violence.

The story fails to pick up on individual rights, legal rights and/or constitutional rights. While police comment is sought, to no avail, the article does not pursue reasons for the attacker’s release from prison. Considering that the woman admits the violent act, further investigation was necessary.

The victim is reported to fear for his life consequent to her release and his commentary portrays his partner negatively. While the reporter gives the couple equal weight to “damnÀ each other, it does not alter the inherent weakness in the story: input on domestic violence and the abuse of rights is missing.

This article brings to the fore this message: that it does not mean that because a male and female are quoted a story is gender balanced or that has a gender perspective.

Headline

The headline describes the nature of the attack: Knife Games: a woman stabs lover on buttocks. The headline sensationalises the incident and ignores the issue. The headline plays on the use of the weapon (knife) and talks to domestic violence as a game.

Sources

This report has equal representation of gender in its use of sources. Traditionally, gender-based violence reports discuss women that are attacked, but in this case the role is reversed.

The story is told by both sources. In this article the woman admits that she attacked her partner. She describes the nature of their relationship in which her partner allegedly attacked her in earlier incidents. It appears that their relationship is violent.

The absence of relationship experts, NGO commentary on the subject devalues the impact of domestic violence and reduces the story to a tabloid, sensational piece.

Language

The language is loaded and judgemental. The author in describing the incident uses emotive words and adjectives that are loaded. The article is filled with the reporter’s commentary. The tone of the language borders on the sensational.

Visual images

The “victimÀ is pictured showing the area that he was stabbed. The picture is a side-angle of the man and his facial expression depicts a worried man. There is only one picture used. The attacker is not pictured.

Story angle and perspective

The story angle is about a male being attacked by his partner. As women bear the brunt of gender based violence, normally, this story is different. The attack is the focus of this feature.

The story is event-based rather than issue-based in this way it was a missed opportunity to look at different dimensions of gender-based violence. The author does get both opinions and this is positive and adds to balancing the story.

Placement or positioning

The story is placed on page 12 and in terms of positioning this does not suggest that it received primary attention. It does occupy the full page but considering the news worthiness of the story it would be fair to receive such treatment.

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