Research Paper

Media Coverage of Mass Murders

            Malcolm X once said, “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power.” Personally, I couldn’t agree more. The media puts such a great emphasis on the news they cover that many times it is completely and totally blown out of proportion. While covering events and forecasting news, it is important to remain honest, ethical, moral and true to your word, but that is something that news reporters and journalists often seem to forget.

            Remaining honest, moral, and ethical is one of the key factors of being a good reporter; in fact journalists and reporters have to sign a code of ethics before they blazon news. The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics specifically states that:

Members of the [society] believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. Ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity. The society declares these four principles as the foundation of ethical journalism and encourages their use in its practices by all people in the media (Society of Professional Journalists).

While the Code of Ethics is detailed and precise, many times reporters and journalists tend to stray away from what’s right and towards what will give them more publicity. The Code of Ethics for media reporters and journalists needs to be more strongly enforced because the media tends to glamorize mass murders and news, make what’s wrong seem right, and overly dramatize events.

            On April 20, 1999 two students, by the names of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, carrying guns and bombs kill 13 students and teachers and injure 23 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. The two students were troubled boys always up to no good. For example in January 1998, the two were caught and arrested for stealing items from a van. The two boys obviously had psychological problem which led them to open fire on their classmates and teachers, making the Columbine Massacre one of the largest school shootings to date. While the event was and is tragic, the Columbine Massacre was all over the news for weeks and months. This makes us question, to what extent is it moral and ethical for reporters to report? And when is it no longer ok for them to report on certain events?

            The job of reporters and journalists is to make people aware of events occurring around the world and in their communities, but when reporters dwell on one topic and feed off of it, it eventually becomes too much. That is what occurred with the Columbine Massacre—reporters and journalists continuously kept discussing the tragic event and over dramatizing it.

            Although the massacre occurred 15 years ago, many teens who attempt to commit mass murders seem to replicate the event. This brings me to question whether or not the news is giving off too much information; and my opinion is that they are. While it is ok to display news and share events to make people aware, there is a certain point at which it is no longer ok to share specific information. I am led to believe that because reporters and journalists covered the Columbine Massacre and reported back to us in such depth, future criminals and perpetrators have an immense amount of information about the tragic event—enough to be able to replicate it. If only reporters and journalists left out this detailed information, then maybe these criminals wouldn’t be able to replicate such a tragic event. Since 1999, there have been over 50 recorded cases of attempts to replicate the Columbine Massacre. Students who feel out-casted and bullied, who have mental issues, tend to use the events of the Columbine Massacre as a way to retaliate themselves.

            Most recently, a senior at Radnor High School was arrested after a letter was found in her journal with detailed plans to murder her classmates and teacher in a Columbine-style massacre. In the letter she wrote how she wanted to be the first female mass murder and she even used specific names of teachers and students that she wanted to kill, and detailed how she would kill them. The letter also included how her inspiration was Erica Harris and Dylan Kelbold. Additionally, the girl’s classmates knew of her fascination with the Columbine Massacre and it is said that she sent a letter to the parents of one of the Columbine shooters with her plan to replicate their massacre and her execution. The young girl evidently has mental issues and hopefully the psychiatric care she is receiving at the juvenile detention center will help, but it is tragic to think that something like the Columbine Massacre could re-occur. So once again, this brings me to question, what can I do as a citizen and what is the job of the reporter? Is there a certain extent to where it is no longer ok to report on the event?

            Another event that is very similar to Columbine is the Sandy Hook shooting that occurred on December 14, 2012. Shortly before the holidays, 20 year old Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and opened fire, killing 20 children, six adults (teachers, administration, etc), and then shooting himself. The event struck a chord in American history and people all over felt for the young lives taken during the horrific event. Like any other shooting, it was only reasonable that authorities investigate Adam’s home and personal items, such as his computer. But the information they found on his computer was appalling—they not only found pictures and videos of the two Columbine Massacre murders, but they also found a detailed and complete copy of the investigation of the Columbine Massacre. But it wasn’t just any investigation, it was an investigation that was led by FBI and public officials—such information has no place in the realm of social media. It should be kept private and stored without release to the public. So what is the responsibility of the new? And where does all of this stop?

            The answer may seem simple, but it is far from that. A reporter’s responsibility is to share news and make citizens aware of the things happening around the world, but like I mentioned before, at one point this becomes too much. There is a point where a reporter should no longer report. For example, with the Sandy Hook and Columbine Massacre, information such as the investigation report should not be released because it leaks statistics and details of the incident and it allows future perpetrators to more closely replicate the horrific events. As a community, if we are trying to decrease the violence rates and promote peace, then how is sharing the investigation report doing so? Well it’s not doing anything beneficial for society! While we can only hope that people become smarter and try to work towards the same goal of peace, there are always going to be people who have had rough lives, whether it be bullying or harassment, and rough backgrounds lead to potential mental problems. And often times mental issues lead people to do crazy things. For example, every single person that has every committed a crime has had some form of mental issues. Therefore, a reporter should only report on what is absolutely necessary for the community to know. For instance, if the reporter is reporting on the Columbine Massacre then they should leave the information vague saying that, “On April 20, 1999, two students opened fire at Columbine High School killing 13 classmates and a teacher, and then killing themselves.” They should not however, share the investigation report or videos from the perpetrators.

            Additionally, when reporting on news, I don’t think that it is necessary for reporters to use names. If the perpetrator is arrested and/or killed, then why spread their name. Not only does this potentially hurt the reputation of the family of the perpetrator, but it also potentially hurts anyone with the same name as the perpetrator. One of my close friends is named Ryan Lanza and shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting he received a lot of negative comments and threats because people thought that he was related to the perpetrator when in fact he wasn’t. Only being 15 at the time, this was a scary experience for him and he had to reach out the help of our schools head in order to delete his social media accounts. Now my friend Ryan knew nothing about Adam Lanza, but because they had the same last name, he received threats. Therefore, it is imperative that media keep names strictly private and only reveal that sort of information if it is absolutely necessary.

            In the contrary though, when reporting on events such as missing persons or acknowledging an act of heroism I think that it is perfectly justifiable to share names and information. When reporting on a missing person, how do you expect the person to be found if not by some form of identification—drivers license, credit card, etc.  Additionally, when sharing news of an act of heroism, I think it is important to acknowledge the good that a person has done and by sharing their name, you are making them seem famous. But this is not in the same way that The Rolling Stone has made Dzhokhar Tsarnev famous; this sort of fame is acknowledging the good in people. 

            Stepping away from the topic of the Columbine Massacre, on April, 15, 2013, two brothers, Dzhokhar Tsarnev and Tamerlan Tsarnev set off two pressure cooker bombs at the Patriot Day Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts. The two bombs were set off within 8-12 seconds of each other and approximately 50-100 yards apart. The event was labeled as an act of terrorism and was blazoned across dozens of new stations and magazines. One of which was the Rolling Stone.

            On August 1, 2013, Rolling Stone issued its magazine with the cover photo being a picture of one of the Boston Marathon Bombers, Dzhokhar Tsarnev, and the article title being , “The Bomber: How a Popular, Promising Student, Was Failed by His Family, Fell Into Radical Islam and Became a Monster.” The release of the magazine created a lot of tension in the public and started a controversial debate. “When do reporters and journalists stop reporting?”

 The Rolling Stone is a magazine known for music and media, but it is by far no place for news coverage on a bombing. Boston Mayor, Thomas Menino wrote, “[it supports] the terrible message that destruction gains fame for killers and their causes” (USA Today).  I would have to agree with Mayor Menino because as a teenager myself I know what it’s like to want to be famous. We all want to be rock stars, actors, musicians, or all three at one point or another, and by displaying the picture of a killer, on the cover of a magazine known for music and movies, it shows that it is almost ok to kill someone, because if you do, you’ll get to be on the cover of The Rolling Stone. Much like the Columbine Massacre was a template for future school shootings, this could potentially become a template for terroristic bombings and attacks.

While I think that the news has good intentions, it is important that reporters and journalists become more conscientious of the things that they are reporting on and the potential repercussions of such media coverage. In an article from Pediatrics, a journal written by Victor Strassburger and Edward Donnerstein, they quote author E.B. White and say, “We shall stand or fall by television.” This perfectly displays the huge impact that the media has on society. For example, in the LA Times article about Adam Lanza and the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, Matt Pearce says, “The fear among some researchers and media critics has been that Columbine set a template for one-upsmanship that is enabled by a 24/7 media that can encourage other would-be killers.” I don’t think that news reporters intend for the news to become templates for future reoccurrences; in fact all the reporters are trying to do is spread news, but they don’t realize that sometimes it is too much news and in too much detail.

Dave Cullen, a reporter from the LA Time who spent over 10 years researching and studying the Columbine Massacre said, “I feel very strongly that we the media have become complicit.” This quote is very similar to what Malcolm X said about the media being very powerful. In general though, this quote perfectly describes my view on media coverage of mass murders—I think that the media glamorizes mass murders and that because of their lack of conscientious decision making; they are setting us up for future mass murders. Therefore, it is crucial that as a society we stand up for what we believe in and make the news reporters and journalists aware of the mistakes they are making and promote positive and safe news reporting.

Works Cited

"9/11 FAQ." 9/11 Memorial. National September 11 Memorial & Museum, 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
     A site funded by the 9/11 National Memorial and Museum that had some quick facts about the tragic event.

Chang, David. "Teen Accused of Plotting Columbine-Style Attack." NBC 10 Philadelphia. NBC Universal Media, 3 Nov. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
     A senior at Radnor High School in Pennsylvania was arrested after being caught plotting a Columbine style attack.

CNN Library. "Boston Marathon Terror Attack Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
     "Here is a look at what you need to know about the Boston Marathon terror attack. On April 15, 2013, double bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured at least 264."

CNN Library. "Columbine High School Shootings Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 18 Apr. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
       A site with some quick facts about the Columbine Massacre and what you need to know. It includes your basic who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Davis, Jessica, Chris Ng, Elizabeth Picciuto, and Keith Pulling. "National Ethics Bowl Cases 2013-'14." High School Ethics Bowl National Ethics Bowl Cases Season 2013-‘14 (n.d.): n. pag. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
       A case from UNC Regional High School Ethics Bowl that brings up the discussion of whether or not the media is blowing up news out of proportion.

Miller, Arthur. "Why I Wrote The Crucible: An Artist's Answer to Politics." The New Yorker 21 Oct. 1996: 1-6. Print.
      A piece of work written by Arthur Miller that really undermines the reasoning for the writing of The Crucible and displays the events of the 1950's Red Scare.

Pearce, Matt. "Adam Lanza's Files Show Him as Another Shooter Caught up in Columbine." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
       In this article, Matt Pearce brings to our attention that the media put out so much information on the Columbine Massacre, that Adam Lanza even had a hold of the detailed FBI report from the massacre.

"Society of Professional JournalistsImproving and Protecting Journalism since 1909." SPJ Code of Ethics. SPJ, 6 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
       This is the journalists and reporters guide to moral and ethical media coverage. It helps to better understand what is expected of journalists and reporters.

Stanglin, Doug. "'Rolling Stone' Defends Tsarnaev Glam Cover amid Outcry." USA Today. Gannett, 17 July 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
       The Rolling Stone published a volume with the picture of one of the Boston Marathon bombers on the cover, causing a lot of public debate on the topic.

Strasburger, Victor C., and Edward Donnerstein. "Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues and Solutions." Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Issues and Solutions. Pediatrics, 1 Jan. 1999. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
     "I believe television is going to be the test of the modern world, and that in this new opportunity to see beyond the range of our vision we shall discover either a new and unbearable disturbance of the general peace or a saving radiance in the sky. We shall stand or fall by television. —Author E. B. White"

Thomas, Pierre, Mike Levine, Jack Cloherty, and Jack Date. "Columbine Shootings' Grim Legacy: More Than 50 School Attacks, Plots." ABC News. ABC News Network, 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.
     This article include over 50 attempts at replicating the Columbine Massacre and a brief description of each. It includes examples like the shooting at Virginia Tech and the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.