The Media: Helpful or Hurtful?
One of the main reasons school shootings are becoming more and more popular is because of the way they are portrayed in the media. When a potential shooter sees the publicity another shooter is getting, they are more likely to copy exactly what happens.
When Too Much Attention is a Bad Thing
Another reason we are seeing more and more terrorism committed by individuals is this idea of being famous and being seen as a hero by other extremists. With the advancement of technology and social media comes a huge stage for these terrorists to perform on. After a terrorist attack, the whole world directs its attention to it. These people can be put down in history books because the world pays so much attention to them.
This idea that any civilian could lose their lives just walking down the street instills so much fear into the common citizen. With such extremist views, terrorists believe their terrorist acts are right and just. They believe that what they are doing is absolutely right for themselves and to create positive change in society.
This idea that any civilian could lose their lives just walking down the street instills so much fear into the common citizen. With such extremist views, terrorists believe their terrorist acts are right and just. They believe that what they are doing is absolutely right for themselves and to create positive change in society.
Book Influences
In Stephan King’s novel Rage, Charlie Decker beats one of his teachers with a pipe and is sent to the principal’s office. This enrages him, so he goes to his locker, pulls out a gun, sets his locker on fire, and then shoots his algebra teacher. She, unfortunately, dies, and he forces the rest of the class to sit and talk with him. The book was released in 1977. This book sparked an idea in a 14-year-old student at Moses Lake, Washington, Junior High School. On February 2, 1996, he walked into his algebra classroom and shot his teacher, two students, and wounded another student. The main connection between the book and his actions was what he said after he shot his teacher; he quoted Rage directly and then began to shoot again. The media took to this story quickly and blasted it everywhere they could. The shooting was copied four times. By King’s request, the book was taken off the shelves so ensure this would not happen again. However, these shootings could have been prevented if the media had not publicized the first shooting as much as they did.
In Joseph Grenny’s article he addressed how the media gives too many details about the crime:
1. They released the shooter's name.
2. They gave details on his attributes.
3. They over explained the crime.
4. They released how many victims there were.
5. They compared him to other "successful" shooters. These released details gives ammo for the next potential copycat shooters.
In Joseph Grenny’s article he addressed how the media gives too many details about the crime:
1. They released the shooter's name.
2. They gave details on his attributes.
3. They over explained the crime.
4. They released how many victims there were.
5. They compared him to other "successful" shooters. These released details gives ammo for the next potential copycat shooters.
The Media's Influence
In an article by Max Kutner, he explores research done about the affects of the media on school shootings. These are his findings. Research has shown that “mass killings and school shootings may be contagious." They believe the reason for this is how much these incidences are covered by the media. The results of their research were that shootings with little to no media coverage had no copies, but the ones that received a lot of coverage were copied. It is most likely for it to be copied in 13 days. This is when media coverage is at its peak.
The media is also quick to report false information. This is not ideal and can trigger emotions from victims, survivors, and the families of the victims. To ensure the amount of copycats is low, reports have to be carefully worded to ensure the actions that took place are not overly dramatized.
From the World Health Organization and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, they suggest withholding information about the suicide (i.e. how and where). They also suggest to not use the word “commit” when referring to the suicide.
The media is also quick to report false information. This is not ideal and can trigger emotions from victims, survivors, and the families of the victims. To ensure the amount of copycats is low, reports have to be carefully worded to ensure the actions that took place are not overly dramatized.
From the World Health Organization and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, they suggest withholding information about the suicide (i.e. how and where). They also suggest to not use the word “commit” when referring to the suicide.