Framing Mass Gun Violence: A Content Analysis of Print Media Coverage of the Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedies

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Publication Date

2014

Publication Title

Gun Violence in American Society: Crime, Justice and Public Policy

ISBN

9780761867043

Abstract

Chapter Excerpt: The deadliest school shooting in American history occurred on April 16, 2007 when a student killed 32 people and wounded 17 others at Virginia Tech. The heinous event attracted the media as domestic and foreign journalists from every major media outlet descended on the campus. Five years later, on December 14, 2012, a 20-year-old Newton, Connecticut community member entered Sandy Hook Elementary School. The gunman committed the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history by fatally shooting 20 students and six staff members. Once again, gun violence had shocked the nation; once again, gun violence had destroyed the lives of children and rattled the social fabric of the community. And, of course, once again, the media flocked to the scene of the tragedy, and, once again, the world saw images of fragile individuals and a community united in grief.

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