How can media better cover mass shootings?

Media coverage of mass shootings may contribute to increased frequency of mass shootings, according to an article published by VCU department of psychology assistant professor Paul Perrin.

Perrin’s article published in the latest issue of American Psychologist and states media professionals’ portrayals of mass shootings lead to “mass shooting contagion.”

A report by Arizona State and Northeastern Illinois University last July indicated that anywhere between 20 to 30 percent of mass shootings were inspired by other instances of mass shootings.

In 2015 there were 372 mass shootings in the United States, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker. Perrin’s research draws on the World Health Organization’s 2008 guide entitled “Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals.”

The WHO advises that the media take the chance to educate the public by using language that does not normalize the behavior, avoiding prominent placement of the story, avoiding details and descriptions and provide information on where to seek help.

“Recently, a parallel body of evidence has begun to accumulate showing that the same process occurs in mass shootings,” Perrin said. “That each mass shooting has been shown unfortunately to spur future shootings.”

Perrin said for years, psychologists and most media professionals have known that media reports of suicides have been shown to increase rates of suicide among populations viewing those reports.

Jeff South, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Robertson School of Media and Culture said he agrees the media should not sensationalize or glorify the shooters anymore than the media should glorify or sensationalize suicide or the people who commit suicide.

“I think the media have to report something,” South said. “The method of death certainly can be omitted to the point at least that you’re not providing a quick-start guide for somebody else to do the same thing.”

Perrin said there is a difference between supplying the public the information it needs and provoking a tragedy.

In Perrin’s conclusion, he states psychologists need to use this research to educate media professionals about the potential for an increase in mass shootings and ways to avert it by “downplaying — instead of sensationalizing — these tragedies.”

“I think it’s a fine balance,” South said. “How you play the story, where you play it, whether you use the picture of the shooter or the picture of the victims — I think that a lot of people have some disgust about seeing a smiley-faced picture of someone who’s carried out a heinous crime.”

Logan Bogert, Contributing Writer