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Changes Needed to News Coverage of Mass Shooters


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 Reducing news coverage of rampage shooters’ personal information, like their names and photos, could be a deterrent to future mass shooters, according to a researcher at The University of Alabama.


Dr. Adam Lankford, UA associate professor of criminology, recently authored â€œDon’t Name Them, Don’t Show Them, But Report Everything Else: A Pragmatic Proposal For Denying Mass Shooters The Attention They Seek and Deterring Future Offenders,†a paper published by the American Behavioral Scientist that explores the history of fame-seeking rampage shooters and news coverage of mass shooters, and recommends collective changes in how news media cover mass shootings.


Lankford, along with Dr. Eric Madfis, associate professor of social work and criminal justice at the University of Washington at Tacoma, suggest the changes because the practical but divisive proposal of gun control legislation does not “seem politically feasible.â€


And, despite previous data that shows many mass shooters struggle with mental health problems and suicidal tendencies, broader issues in mental health, like proper diagnosis and the reliability of data to identify potential attackers, make the approach difficult to successfully implement.


The paper identifies three consequences of current news coverage, which typically includes publishing names and faces of mass shooters in initial and follow-up coverage: mass shooters’ fulfillment and incentive to achieve notoriety; competition among offenders to maximize victim fatalities; and copycat and contagion effects.


The paper referenced internet messages and suicide notes about fame by the 2007 Nebraska mall shooter and the 2011 Tucson shooter, the Virginia Tech shooter’s manifesto and the Columbine shooters’ desire to cause the “most deaths in U.S. history†to illustrate each consequence and the similarities between shooters.


“Because many attackers explicitly admit that they want fame and directly reach out to media organizations to get it, it has become essentially indisputable that as a society, we have been helping them achieve their goals,†Lankford said. “And, unfortunately, the offenders who kill more victims to get more publicity appear to be accurately exploiting predictable patterns in media behavior.â€


Lankford proposes news media:


  • Do not name the perpetrator
  • Do not use photos or likenesses of the perpetrator
  • Stop using the names, photos or likenesses of past perpetrators
  • Report everything else about these crimes in as much detail as desired

Some of these measures have been implemented by news media in other countries, and there’s precedent for exceptions in coverage, like refraining from showing fans running across the field at sporting events and not publishing the names of victims of sexual assault.


Lankford said potential challenges of information leaks, offender self-promotion and the rarity of escaped suspects in mass shootings shouldn’t discourage nationwide implementation of his suggested news standards. He, along with 140 scholars, professors and law enforcement professionals have signed an open letter encouraging news media to incorporate the changes to their coverage.


“Many actors, authors, composers, inventors, musicians, reporters and journalists would be far less motivated—and might simply give up and try something else — if they knew that no matter what they did, no one would ever know their names,†Lankford said. “So under similar constraints, how many prospective mass shooters would give up their attack plans and do something else instead?


“It may be impossible to forecast an exact number, but even a small reduction in mass killings would make a big difference to the victims who avoid tragic deaths, and their friends and families.â€


https://www.ua.edu/news/2017/10/ua-researcher-changes-needed-to-news-coverage-of-mass-shooters



 


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I feel that this is an underreported problem. While there are other changes that need to be done the way that the media sensationalizes tragedies needs to change. Just for ratings mainstream media makes killers into celebrities. Which is pretty much the goal of most of these mass shooters. 


We can all help by just refusing to contribute to what these shooters wanted. I personally try to not mention their names, photos or share articles that do. We should only share names and photos of victims.


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Uh....a deterrent to future mass shootings would be to change the damn gun laws

 

what do you mean by change? Do you mean longer waiting period? Deeper background checks? Preventing anyone from buying guns? Asking people who own guns to turn them in to the government? Honestly, unless we reach that last stage people will get guns if they want to commit a crime. We can make changes like better communication between FBI databases and people who sell guns legally, mental background checks, longer waiting periods before getting a gun, etc. In the end we can make it harder for people to get guns legally, but we can't stop them from getting guns. Sadly, it is just reality. 

 

Now people who want to become famous by being  mass shooters could change their mind if no one will care about who they are. Here we are trying to change the intent to commit a crime. After people decide to commit a crime, legal barriers don't really matter. 

 

 

I thought this was an OH staff notice at first tbh with that title

 

that is not a bad idea tbh

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Uh....a deterrent to future mass shootings would be to change the damn gun laws

My cousin owns a shotgun, a lot of people here does, you don't heard about mass shootings here. We don't make them famous like USA does. 

 

Also our police would basically kill them before they say anything if they attempt this shit

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My cousin owns a shotgun, a lot of people here does, you don't heard about mass shootings here. We don't make them famous like USA does. 

 

Also our police would basically kill them before they say anything if they attempt this shit

 

Does he own a military style assault weapon???

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yeah i feel like the way they report about the perpetrators especially in 24 hr news cycles creates a breeding ground for more psychos that have the inclination towards similar violent behavior.... everytime they rehash and nitpick the same isolated, socially awkward, sociopath murderer story line out there there will always be a few edgelords that will be like "same"

 

the focus should be on the victims and educating people on how to protect themselves and others f

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this morning i got a  recommended article that said something along the lines of "who is lucio cruz?" and im here like, "i don't want to know! i dont want to see his face, i dont want to know his name, i dont care at all about his backstory, i dont want to know."


 


mass media has definitely increased the hysteria and celebrity around these loons, and has in turn made them representative figures for any "lone wolf" looking for validation. there's a reason why things such as "copycat killers" exist. people get enamored with the act and the celebrity that inevitably comes with how it's reported. serial killings, as well as mass shootings, cannot be reported in the same way that one-off acts of gun violence can.


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There are many things that can be done to start addressing the issue of gun violence of this kind. I suppose restricting media to prevent coverage of assailants is one way.  But with the internet, social media, and the citizen reporter mindset, it's gonna be very hard to keep that information from spreading. My worry is that the lack of official information will lead to online speculation, much like what happened during the Boston Marathon bombing.

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My cousin owns a shotgun, a lot of people here does, you don't heard about mass shootings here. We don't make them famous like USA does.

 

Also our police would basically kill them before they say anything if they attempt this shit

Your country isn't US.... There is a definitely a different in mentality with the way people handle guns here than other country. There is more likelyhood to use guns in crimes, and the amount of guns available in US compare to every other 1st world country make it easily accessible.

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Yeah, they have already been mimicked crimes like that 12 year old who wrote that letter.

 

The over sensationalism over the murderer is insane. 

I saw a report calling the kid a poor lil orphan. 

 

 

But this is unlikely to change just like the gun laws are, the media are leeches and continue to be so

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Nothinng said is new, but the press will never change. They want sales and clicks, and that means they will write about the shooters if that generates income.

 

It's the same with serial killers... It's been said since the 1970's or 80's to not give them names.

 

How many here wants these changes, but still clicked articles about the shooter...

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I agree with this. We are giving them what they want: fame and attention. Stop giving us a background story of their life, stop telling us that they came from a troubled (or a positive) life, just stop it. Stop giving them the attention that they want. Not only that, but it bugs me when reporters go up to victims and outright ask, "How do you feel?" Well, HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK? You constantly asking people how they feel not only is it obvious, but you are feeding onto other possible mass shooters to implement that fear.

 

It is more than a mental health issue. America needs to stop being so damn stupid and make a change to this. Enough is enough. DO something. I am so disgusted with how this country is run.

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Yeah, they have already been mimicked crimes like that 12 year old who wrote that letter.

 

The over sensationalism over the murderer is insane. 

I saw a report calling the kid a poor lil orphan. 

 

 

But this is unlikely to change just like the gun laws are, the media are leeches and continue to be so

 

Change will be really hard. The media is out of control and the public mass consumes gossip. 

 

Yeah, like i don't care how sad your story is or how hard you had it. A lot of people go through horrible stuff and they don't decide to turn around and kill innocent kids. He was troubled that is true, but it shouldn't be presented as an excuse. 

 

Nothinng said is new, but the press will never change. They want sales and clicks, and that means they will write about the shooters if that generates income.

 

It's the same with serial killers... It's been said since the 1970's or 80's to not give them names.

 

How many here wants these changes, but still clicked articles about the shooter...

 

 

I agree. That is what I feel that we need to each make a change. If we all chose to avoid places that promote this information and not give them clicks or spread their information, we will be taking a step towards asking for change. We need to demand this from the media but they only look at numbers. 

 

 

I agree with this. We are giving them what they want: fame and attention. Stop giving us a background story of their life, stop telling us that they came from a troubled (or a positive) life, just stop it. Stop giving them the attention that they want. Not only that, but it bugs me when reporters go up to victims and outright ask, "How do you feel?" Well, HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK? You constantly asking people how they feel not only is it obvious, but you are feeding onto other possible mass shooters to implement that fear.

 

It is more than a mental health issue. America needs to stop being so damn stupid and make a change to this. Enough is enough. DO something. I am so disgusted with how this country is run.

 

idk in other countries but American media is so disgusting. Like you said they bring up the victims and ask them how they feel, parents who just lost their kids , etc. They put on this pity voice that is so fake and they are just looking to promote themselves at the expense of other people's suffering. And the big shots always travel to the location of the attack so they can use that as a backdrop. It feels like they lack compassion, they just want clicks and ratings. 

 

 

There are many things that can be done to start addressing the issue of gun violence of this kind. I suppose restricting media to prevent coverage of assailants is one way.  But with the internet, social media, and the citizen reporter mindset, it's gonna be very hard to keep that information from spreading. My worry is that the lack of official information will lead to online speculation, much like what happened during the Boston Marathon bombing.

 

I also think it would be hard to prevent information from spreading and that it could lead to mass misinformation. We already have a wave of misinformation, where even big name news make mistakes because they rush to print stuff without corroborating it. I can't think of a solution tbh.

 

What this researcher is proposing is that besides name and photo we include all other information. If there is no name and no photo, no one will know who he is. Locally they will but not nationwide or worldwide. Sadly, we live in an age that if you want to be remembered you either accomplish something amazing or do something so horrible that people will talk about you for ages. 

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This sort of analysis always goes round, including featured on the news by some experts in the matter but then the next day the news is showing the shooters, saying what kind of person they were and blaming things like video games and movies. Repeat for time. Media never learns

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I agree. That is what I feel that we need to each make a change. If we all chose to avoid places that promote this information and not give them clicks or spread their information, we will be taking a step towards asking for change. We need to demand this from the media but they only look at numbers. 

 

 

 

idk in other countries but American media is so disgusting. Like you said they bring up the victims and ask them how they feel, parents who just lost their kids , etc. They put on this pity voice that is so fake and they are just looking to promote themselves at the expense of other people's suffering. And the big shots always travel to the location of the attack so they can use that as a backdrop. It feels like they lack compassion, they just want clicks and ratings. 

 

This so very much! This country disgusts me, they keep saying change will come but nothing comes, nothing will ever come until it's too late.

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This sort of analysis always goes round, including featured on the news by some experts in the matter but then the next day the news is showing the shooters, saying what kind of person they were and blaming things like video games and movies. Repeat for time. Media never learns

 

 

Honestly, I started seeing it recently. Now and sadly I have plenty of experience, I try to avoid anything that has the shooter's name or articles that have his face and I just focus just on talking about victims and their stories. The media will never learn bc they don't really care, they only want what will give them more money. 

 

This so very much! This country disgusts me, they keep saying change will come but nothing comes, nothing will ever come until it's too late.

 

I believe we have changed but in a negative direction. :( 

Now that we consume information so fast, people don't even care about accuracy or the effect of news being spread. 

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Yes, absolutely. I have been saying this for a while now, we are experiencing the copycat crime effect in action. The media did change their coverage after they caused the rise in suicides in the past like they’re doing now with the shootings, they can do it with this too. Just stop it.

 

Edit: I’ve said this in other threads about this, but it’s worth repeating. Psychologists have identified narcissism as a main characteristic of of mass shooters. Listen to the psychologists when they say stop feeding their narcissim. Stop with the coverage that treats them as celebrities.

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