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Media shootings coverage impacts society - The Shorthorn : Life + Entertainment

Media shootings coverage impacts society

David Dunn, The Shorthorn staff | Posted: Monday, February 11, 2013 5:30 pm
On Dec. 14, 2012, Adam Lanza took the lives of 20 children and six adults before taking his life. Almost two months after the Sandy Hook
Elementary shooting, the story still remains a top contender in the media.

With the recent controversies surrounding state policies and gun control laws,
communications associate professor Andrew Clark said gun issues are relevant now more than
ever.
I think that we tend to be a knee-jerk society in some respects that, when something happens, we
tend to sort of react the opposite way, Clark said. People tend to not necessarily think through
the issue they just tend to react.
Photography junior Chandler Wilde said too much media coverage of gun crime can lead to more
of it. According to Science Direct, it is believed that repeated exposure to real-life violence may
alter cognitive, affective and behavioral processes, possibly leading to desensitization.
When some people see it on TV, they want to be covered like that too, and then they go and do the
same thing again, Wilde said. It is a big deal, but to have it top story for over a month is not
good.
The media attention toward the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting bothers broadcasting junior
Andre Hinton, too, but for different reasons.
As far as the victims go, I think they should be left alone at this point, Hinton said. Theres been
a lot of attention on the families, and I feel the families should be getting their space.
Hinton said he especially did not like that news stations interviewed children. In January, news
outlets such as CNN and NBC were openly criticized on social media for interviewing crying
children.
If the kids finally out of that situation, they definitely dont want to relive it, Hinton said.
Interviewing children is no small matter, according to the FBI. The government agency website
states that children cannot be approached like adults because doing so would adversely impact their
statements.
Interviewing children is hard. Theyre more sensitive and theyre emotionally scarred, said
broadcasting journalism junior Monica Davis. I think there should be a good wait period. You need
to give it at least two weeks before you interview a child after something that traumatic.
Despite this, Davis believes that the story is still vital and important in todays world.
I think thats a dominant story for any news network because it was about children, she said. I
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3/5/13

Media shootings coverage impacts society - The Shorthorn : Life + Entertainment

think its relevant to tell the public what happened.

Clark said media has a strong influence on society.
I think its important with an issue like this an issue that has become very personal and volatile
that you engage in a very civil debate, that both sides are allowed to express their issues, he said. I
think thats where the media can really help: by ensuring that their stories are fair, that theyre
presenting both sides of the issue, that theyre not coming out in favor of one or the other.
@dDUnn87
davidadunn@mavs.uta.edu

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