The Newsworthiness of Mass Public Shootings: What Factors Impact the Extent of Coverage?

This study examined the characteristics of mass public shootings from 2000 through 2019 that impacted the extent of news coverage. A negative binomial regression predicting AP story counts indicated substantially greater coverage of shootings with a high number of casualties; that target government...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Fox, James Alan (Author)
Contributors: Gerdes, Madison ; Duwe, Grant 1971- ; Rocque, Michael
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2021
In: Homicide studies
Year: 2021, Volume: 25, Issue: 3, Pages: 239-255
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:This study examined the characteristics of mass public shootings from 2000 through 2019 that impacted the extent of news coverage. A negative binomial regression predicting AP story counts indicated substantially greater coverage of shootings with a high number of casualties; that target government facilities, schools, or houses of worship; that are perpetrated by younger assailants, particularly with indications of mental illness; that involve terrorism or hate-motivation; that end in the assailant’s arrest rather than death; and, to a lesser extent, that include larger shares of victims who are White, women, children, and strangers. Overall, the disproportionate coverage contributes to distorted perceptions of risk and reinforces inaccurate stereotypes about these crimes.
ISSN:1552-6720
DOI:10.1177/1088767920974412