A couple recurring themes in the Reader's Corner easily stand out while reviewing previous pieces. One of them is the usage of photographs and the other is reporting on suicides. Both our chief ombudsman, İbrahim Altay, and I wrote on the subject more than once in order to get the point across. As far as Daily Sabah goes, the way reports of suicide are handled improved, as the latest example showed. However, media in Turkey is largely still a far cry from the ideal parameters. This past weekend's reporting certainly proved that much.

On Oct. 3, 2015, two people allegedly committed suicide on one of the most crowded streets in Istanbul. The woman in question died instantly while the man is still in the intensive care unit. It appears that both injuries were the result of a single gunshot.

This was the entirety of the facts that the media and, consequently, the public knew. Let's see how they projected it.

As the parties of the incident were a man and woman they were immediately branded as a couple. Since they allegedly decided to commit suicide, they must have been hopelessly in love. Perhaps they could not be together in life so they decided to do it in death. Endless romanticizing filled social media as the media reported on it. There were theories so far-fetched they would only take place in a movie, and a bad one at that.

However, the facts were clear. We do not know their relationship, we do not know the reasons for their actions and we do not even know that the man actually was on board with the suicide plan. Yet Romeo and Juliet fantasies were everywhere. Social media was crawling with salutes to this "brave couple who decided to sail to eternity together." However, the writers of these highly encouraging aphorisms never stopped to think what they were encouraging people to do. Suicide?

Of course we can only blame individuals as we cannot regulate social media. But the same cannot be said for the media. By providing details while reporting on the suicide and adding a sentimental tone, media outlets handed all the dots to the public on a silver platter and all that was left was for social media to connect them in the form of a Shakespearean drama.

Cyber bullying was not in the public eye before sad and drastic events took place as a result. I sincerely hope that the same will not be the case for reports on suicide because otherwise they will evolve into suicide cult reports.

Once again let's end this article with our guidelines on reporting on suicide assisted by The World Health Organization (WHO) 2008 report, "Preventing Suicide, A Resource for Media Professionals:

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- No connections should be made between gender, age or job and suicide

Do not glorify the suicide or the person who committed it. This mistake was made in the cases of Stefan Zweig, Kurt Cobain and other celebrities who committed suicide.

Suicide stories should not be told with a sentimental tone. Romantic headlines such as ‘Even death couldn't part them' are common mistakes in suicide-related news.

The suicide location should not be described in detail.

Suicide can be a learned activity. Therefore the method by which one takes their own life should not be specified.

The suicide should not be reasoned with a singular aspect such as psychological, social or economic. Headlines such as ‘Bankruptcy led to suicide' and ‘Victim of hopeless love' are such examples.

Any tone that normalizes or justifies suicide as a reaction or a message should not be used.

Photos of the people who committed the suicide should not be used and their names should be censored."