The Internet Newspaper Ethics Commission (Chairman Lee Jae-jin), together with the Korea Press Foundation, held the “2026 Life-Respect Internet Newspaper Desk Seminar” on the 19th at the Media Education Center.
The seminar followed a “CEO Invitation Breakfast Seminar” held in June for publishers. It was expanded to include desk editors and team leaders under the theme “The Responsibility of Internet Newspapers in the Era of Life Respect.”
◆ Why the training was expanded to desks: the weight of the editing stage
There was a reason the training target was broadened to editorial managers. The desk is the position that ultimately decides a story’s headline, placement, and wording. If publishers set the direction, whether an individual article follows the guidelines is determined at the editing stage.
Suicide reporting, in particular, carries significant weight in wording. It has long been pointed out that the way it is reported affects society differently. International organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have said that media coverage can either contribute to suicide prevention or work in the opposite direction. That is why the editorial judgment involved in refining headlines and choosing expressions becomes the starting point of prevention.
Yun Jin, head of the Suicide Prevention Public Relations Division at the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention, explained the background and main content of the revision of the “Suicide Prevention Reporting Guidelines 4.0.” He emphasized the social impact of suicide reporting and the media’s social responsibility, and through real-world examples he highlighted the reporting principles that must be followed and the need for a desirable reporting culture.
◆ When news becomes comfort: the relationship with readers
The second lecture moved into changes in news consumption. Hwang Seong-yeon, a leader at Nielsen Korea, spoke on “Data-Based Strategies for Responding to News Users,” introducing changes in population structure and media-use environments and how they are altering news consumption patterns.
The emphasis was on the relationship with readers. Hwang stressed that, considering the life cycles and emotional needs of readers, including older adults, news needs to go beyond delivering information and also serve a role of comfort and connection. He also suggested ways to build ongoing relationships with readers through various services such as newsletters.
The two lectures are connected in tone. The perspective is that reporting that respects life should not stop at restrained expression, but should expand into journalism that considers readers emotionally and connects with them. Underlying this is the recognition that, for readers in crisis, news can become a channel of connection rather than isolation.
◆ From publishers to desks: continuing education
The commission said, “Following the CEO seminar in June, we shared the practical direction of life-respect journalism with desks who are responsible for actual news production and editing.” It added, “We will continue to prepare educational programs that take into account the roles and job characteristics of media workers so that the value of life respect can be meaningfully implemented at internet newspaper sites.”
The sequence of training, from publishers to editorial managers, is being read as an effort to ensure that the guidelines do not remain a declaration but instead take root in on-site practice. The commission has continued education and seminars with the Korea Press Foundation to strengthen the social responsibility of internet newspapers, and plans to keep working to spread life-respect journalism and build a healthy internet news ecosystem.
If you are experiencing depression or other emotional difficulties, or if someone around you is struggling, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling by calling the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109.