{"id":1598,"date":"2017-10-05T09:43:39","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T14:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/?p=1598"},"modified":"2017-10-05T09:54:18","modified_gmt":"2017-10-05T14:54:18","slug":"mass-shootings-and-the-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/2017\/10\/05\/mass-shootings-and-the-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass Shootings and the Media"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A candlelight vigil outside Virginia Tech’s Burruss Hall after the 2007 mass shooting. Photo by Kate Wellington, Flickr CC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The nation remains in mourning as we struggle to make sense of this week\u2019s tragedy in Las Vegas, where 59 people were killed and over 500 wounded. Many are referring to the attack as the \u201c<\/span>deadliest shooting in modern US history<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Through their grief and shock, some now question how local law enforcement, politicians, and news media outlets will characterize the shooter, a middle-aged white man, who, according to family members and the early stages of the investigation, had no known ties to religious or political groups. Investigative authorities link terrorism to violent acts, <\/span>the motives behind those acts<\/span><\/a>, and affiliation with known terrorist organizations. Yet, several activists have argued that the media\u2019s characterization of mass shooters depends upon their race, ethnicity, and religious beliefs, noting that \u201c<\/span>Whiteness, somehow, protects men from being labeled terrorists<\/span><\/a>.\u201d Examining the role of media discourse regarding mass killings might help us make sense of these acts of violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mass shootings have been covered extensively by the U.S. media since the late 1990s Columbine shooting. What began as a focus on the two perpetrators and 11 victims developed into a moral panic regarding youth delinquency, mental illness, discipline, and even terrorism. Yet, the media does not treat all mass shootings equally — several factors come into play, including the availability of iconic images, media access, and the race and socioeconomic status of the perpetrator. Shootings that occur in seemingly quiet suburbs by white youth are more shocking because the perpetrators and victims are considered to be \u201cpeople like us.\u201d In contrast, shootings where the perpetrators are persons of color or reside in working-class neighborhoods produce less shock, as news producers and consumers presume that violence is somehow normal or inherent to those communities.<\/h5>\n