I haven’t blogged in some time, but feel moved to write this.
The recent events in Paris France and San Bernardino CA, USA are two more tragic events carried out by parties that had an agenda of spreading fear, chaos, and most critically — have as large an impact as possible by knowing their heinous acts would be not only broadcast by world news agencies, but sensationalized.
Each time a mass shooting occurs, the news press not only reports the basic facts, but covers such an event in very dramatic fashion (e.g. showing police convoys, victims, terrified evacuees, loved ones in tears). Covering mass shootings this way gives the assailants exactly what they want the most: a world-wide platform that they know will cover their acts in dramatic and highly emotional fashion; it gives them and their message the notoriety they crave.
Each time a mass shooting occurs gun control, increased screening and surveillance are proposed and debated. Such measures can be divisive and do not address the main incentive that mass shooters all want: sensationalized world-wide press coverage to spread their final message.
I’ve thought about this at length and am convinced that if we take away their platform, will be taken away. I would like this blog to serve as a catalyst for a world-wide call for all news press agencies to enter into a code of conduct and protocol agreement that specifies how they will cover a mass shooting:
- Report the basic facts like other news (who, what, when, where).
- Do not broadcast video coverage of the events or witness reactions.
- Do not dramatize the event by issuing news alerts and breaking news flashes.
- Do not speculate on possible motives and possible links to terrorist organizations.
- Do not keep cycling coverage of the event. Report it, indicate that the mass shooting press protocol is being observed and move on to other news.
- Self police this protocol and report on news organizations that break this code of conduct.
Most importantly, the press must show a comprehensive and unified front by committing to this agreement and launch a major campaign that announces to their audiences that this is how mass shootings and other similar events will be covered. I believe that if the press has the courage to commit to do this, the dramatic message platform that would-be shooters so highly desire will be taken away. I don’t know if this blog will be read by many. My hope is that what I am proposing will spread and action will be taken.