Impact of Media Coverage on School Shootings

Media coverage of international school shootings in recent years has been immense. The sheer number of school shootings, and the level of brutality inflicted upon society’s most vulnerable, has captured and held public interest since the early 70’s, and with it the way media reported it. But what is unclear, is the effect media representation had on the aftermath of many shootings, as well as the influence of others.
How Media portrays School Shootings

After serious incidents like school shootings occur, they are often heavily reported. News reports can dissect the facts, documentaries, films and music depict its brutality and video games idealise it. It is an undoubtedly shocking topic that can affect the lives of many, which causes a demand for information and draws the attention of others. In the wake of a shooting, a large amount of news coverage has become expected. As stated by Nina

Different types of media entertainment, such as music and video games, reach different audiences and may even influence those who view them. Jeremy by Pearl Jam, a notorious music video of the 1990’s, was inspired by an incident in an American high school where a student shot himself in front of his class. The song, and its graphic video depiction of the student’s attack, won several awards and has since been certified gold. Which shows that shootings can be portrayed in different media forms and can become common in pop culture. Media portrayals of shootings do not come solely from news reports and it is other forms of media that have to be addressed when looking at how media and violence intersect, and its possible influences. In ‘Media construction of a school shooting as a social problem’ by Meron Wondermaghen (2014), it is argued that differing media portrayals are important for bringing issues to the public’s attention and framing it as a public issue in need of