The Press Complaints Commission has made an example of the Wigan Evening Post and Wigan Observer in its first enforcement of the new rules on reporting suicide.
The press watchdog found that the local papers in Greater Manchester breached its voluntary code by breaking Clause 5, which covers intrusion into grief or shock and was amended last year to restrict coverage of suicide.
The clause now states that "when reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method used" to minimise the risk of copycat suicides.
The papers and their shared website published an article about the inquest into the suicide of a local teacher, which included specific details of how he had electrocuted himself. The report in the Wigan Evening Post on May 25, 2007 was titled "Electrocuted".
The PCC upheld a complaint by the wife of the deceased man, who objected to the articles, calling them "irresponsible", and argued that children taught by her late husband might have been adversely affected.
The newspaper replied that the article was an accurate report of the inquest, but accepted it might have included too much detail. It apologised for causing the complainant distress.
The PCC, which described the case as an opportunity to underline the issue to editors, ruled that the articles contained too much detail and noted that the code over-rides the legal right of newspapers to report on proceedings such as inquests.
Clause 5 was amended in June 2006 following a campaign by the Samaritans, which presented evidence to the Editors' Code of Practice Committee.
The Samaritans chief executive, Dominic Rudd, said he was satisfied with the outcome.
"I am pleased to see that the PCC has upheld the complaint for precisely the reason the new clause was entered into the PCC Code last year - to make sure that there is no excessive reporting of suicide methods which might lead to copycat suicides," Mr Rudd said.
"The PCC's decision shows they are sincere in their desire to make reporting of suicide cases responsible."
