The Coverage Conundrum: Media Biases in Reporting Violence

On average, mass shootings occur in the United States every twelve and a half days. With the rise of gun violence, it is almost impossible to find a news source that is reporting on anything else. The sad reality is that most Americans no longer feel safe today, even in the peace and quiet of their home. Given that these horrific occurrences are so common, they almost feel tragically “normal.” The sentiment was expressed by sophomore Luke Silva as “numb to the violence.” 

Unfortunately, the news does not cover tragedies in all communities equally. According to a study led by Assistant Professor of Surgery Elinore Kaufman and doctors specializing in gun-related injuries, victims originating from minority communities were less likely to be covered by the media.

This study followed 1,801 victims of gun violence, half of which was covered in the news in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Rochester. The study found that 83% of victims were Black, but only 48.7% of deaths were reported by media outlets. The significant gap in these statistics raises profound questions that must be addressed.

Whether this unbalanced reporting is an example of unconscious bias or something more overt, it nonetheless sends a chilling perception by the media that some deaths are worth reporting at a disproportionately higher rate for some groups over others.

Arturo Mercado, a sophomore at the School, commented, “I don’t know if there is media bias or not, but the latest big tragedy that I keep reading is the one in the Maine bowling alley where 18 people died.” This terrible event has sent shock waves across the country and deserves significant coverage of the (mostly white) victims.

Another horrific example of a mass shooting that has received significant media attention over the last year is Highland Park, where a deranged individual killed dozens of white people during a July 4th parade last year. But Highland Park was not the only mass shooting on that particular day. According to Everytown Research and Policy, five other mass shootings occurred on July 4th in various non-white communities. These tragedies were all under-reported by the media and consequently do not carry the same national awareness as Highland Park.

Some may argue that the news media is purposefully avoiding the subject of Black deaths to prevent a contagion effect, meaning it could inspire “copycat” violence targeting Black communities. That said, the sheer number of Black deaths from violence already occurring in the U.S. disputes that argument. Contagion is already here. 

Lawrence Liu, a sophomore at the School, believes that the media can pave a path forward by “having equality in their coverage of these events. It sends the clear message that every human, regardless of what community they come from, is equally special and valued.” 

There is a broader need to address the underlying issues that cause mass violence in our country. No one wants to read about the senseless and brutal killing of innocent lives on the front pages of our newspapers and social media feeds. But while society must engage in a national debate about topics like gun rights and mental health, there is one thing the media can do immediately: take a unified stance on the equal reporting of the tragic deaths occurring across all communities.