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Author's Note: Does news coverage of mass murders lead to more mass murders?

When a tragedy, such as the Sandy Hook shootings, occurs only miles from your doorstep, the emotions it engenders are raw and brittle. Such was the case in my small section of the world in December. Years ago, I would have relished being at the scene of the crime gathering facts and rushing them into print. That's the job of the journalist, after all. And that's what I am. Now, years removed from the daily grind of newspaper work, I don't see that attitude as healthy. Perhaps all journalists should step back when covering such tragedies. They need to know their words and images have a huge impact.

Sources

  • Chivers, Tom. "Norway killings: does media coverage inspire copycats?" The Telegraph. July 28, 2011. (Jan. 10, 2013) http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100098853/norway-killings-does-media-coverage-cause-copycats/
  • Coleman, Loren. "The Copycat Effect: How the Media and Popular Culture Trigger the Mayhem in Tomorrow's Headlines." Pocket Books. 2004.
  • Farhi, Paul. "Could Aurora, Colo., shooting suspect inspire copycats?" The Washington Post. (Jan. 10, 2013) http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/putting-a-face-on-evil/2012/07/23/gJQALXSK5W_story.html
  • Helfgott, Jacqueline B. "Criminal Behavior: Theories Typologies and Criminal Justice. Sage Publications. 2008.
  • Kelly, Rin. "Do media vultures perpetuate mass shootings? Salon. Dec. 29, 2012. (Jan. 10, 2013) http://www.salon.com/2012/12/29/do_media_vultures_perpetuate_mass_shootings/
  • Kopel, David. "Don't turn Aurora killer into celebrity." USA Today. July, 20, 2012. (Jan. 10, 2013) http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-07-20/aurora-colorado-batman-movie-murder/56376566/1
  • Surette, Ray. "Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice: Images, Realities, and Policies. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. 2007.