Citation

Fox JA, Gerdes M, Duwe G, Rocque M. Homicide Stud. 2021; 25(3): 239-255.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767920974412

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

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.

Language: en

Keywords

mass public shootings; negative binomial regression; news media coverage; offense characteristics; public perceptions