Specifically, in this series I tackle 1) the nature and frequency of mass shootings, 2) the demographics of mass shooters, concluding with 3) applying media literacy to mass shooting statistics. A comprehensive analysis of the phenomenology of mass shootings is beyond the scope of this short article series my goal is to help separate facts from myths about mass shootings so that the public can better understand the true nature of the problem. My focus is not on the politics of gun control or criminology but instead misinformation and media literacy, specifically as it is spread through news and social media (“the media” in this article). In this three-part series I focus on myths about mass shootings in America, as they represent a common concern. In my capacity as a media literacy educator (and author of several books on the topic, including Media Mythmakers: How Journalists, Activists, and Advertisers Mislead Us ), I have in past articles for the Center for Inquiry attempted to unpack thorny and contentious social issues such as the labeling of terrorists (see, for example, my April 2, 2018, Special Report “ Why ‘They’ Aren’t Calling It ‘Terrorism’ –A Primer”) and the claim that “the media” isn’t covering certain news stories because of some social or political agenda (see my November 9, 2018, piece “ ’Why Isn’t The Media Covering This Story? ’-Or Are They?”).
The public’s perception of mass shootings is heavily influenced by mass media, primarily news media and social media. This is effective for scoring political points but wholly counterproductive for understanding the nature of the problem and its broader issues. Facile comparisons and snarky memes dominate social media, crowding out objective, evidence-based evidence and analysis. The topic of mass shootings is fraught not only with political agendas but also with rampant misinformation. It’s a subject that has captivated America for years with little progress in understanding the nature of the problem.
With the recent tragic attacks against Muslims in New Zealand on Maby an Australian white supremacist, the world once again turned its attention to mass shootings. You can read the rest of the series here.
0 kommentar(er)
