Why+is+Extreme+School+Violence+Highly+Publicized+in+the+Media


 * The highly publicized school shootings of the 1990’s generated worldwide concern about the safety of our schools
 * In 1999, Columbine High School became the best-known high school in America when two boys went on a shooting rampage that killed twelve students and a teacher before they killed themselves
 * The media began shooting coverage of the event while the students were still inside hiding from the shooters, showing the public images that were not normally seen on television. Interviews with some of the survivors added to the publics interest.
 * The result of the event brought new attention to the problem of school safety and changed the publics perception from the view that schools were a safe place to schools were now a dangerous place to be, however the number of school violence cases were on the decline during the 1990's thus showing us the power the media has on the publics perception.
 * It is the job of claims makers such as news media, and politicians to play an active role in how the average citizen shapes his/her views of social life.
 * This job done by the claims makers is completed by only providing certain details and certain types of information about these problems such as violent crime in our schools by subjectively framing these specific issues in ways which lead the public to adopt certain beliefs.
 * Sometimes biases, ignorance, hidden agenda's will distort how these claims makers choose to report on these problems as well as which information is included in the broadcast.
 * The effect that these three instances have on an average citizen is great; these claims makers use biases, ignorance, and hidden agenda's to create public fear on issues that do not affect the majority of people in society.
 * These issues are compounded by the media's need to attract large audiences to keep up good ratings and stay in business
 * One of the ways in which this is done is to satisfy the general publics need and curiosity with violent acts and death.


 * Statistics show that the number of youth killed or injured per day in the community far outnumbers those killed or injured on or around school grounds. This statement shows exactly why the media puts school shootings front and centre in the news; its because a school shooting is a rare phenomenon. An average killing in a community is not necessarily news worthy because it happens all the time.
 * A school shooting which is put into the media is much different than a regular killing. A school shooting which makes the media usually caries a high casualty rate of dead and wounded; and it all happens in a very short amount of time and usually for reasons still unknown.
 * This makes these horrors worthy of news coverage because they carry all the factors of a good news story: SHOCK FACTOR, WHY FACTOR, MEDICAL OPINIONS, HOT POLITICAL TOPICS these and more will make an excellent and long lasting news story.


 * Television portrayals of crime and its victims seems to correlate more with the media's viewers fears of crime than with viewers actual victimization risk.
 * This is the FEAR FACTOR speaking because of the news media's exaggeration of facts trying to keep more people tuned into their program.
 * This same FEAR will also undoubtedly produce debates on changes towards government policy on guns, safe schools, and weapons in general

Source:

Kupchik, Aaron and Bracy, Nicole L.. (2009). The News Media on School Crime and Violence: Constructing Dangerousness and Fueling Fear. University of Delaware. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, Vol. 7 number 2. ph 136-155.