Media construction of a school shooting as a social problem

Abstract

The Monash University shooting which occurred in 2002, in Melbourne Australia, is analysed using claims-making theory and the four-stage natural history model of social problems. As Spector and Kitsuse argue, social problems ‘are what people think they are’ rather than objective problems. This incident – a shooting of two classmates by a mentally ill offender who suffered from persecutory delusions – was framed as a gun problem rather than a socially or psychologically related crime. In doing so, journalists made claims or emphasised the claims of selected voices in order to promote a specific social problem over others and, in turn, reinforce political arguments for tougher gun laws and policy measures. The implication with this type of coverage is that it results in not addressing appropriately the real causes of the problem; in this case violence as a coping mechanism by a mentally ill offender. This study offers a useful model to study media reporting of a claimed social problem and its influence in the policy process, decision and development.

Finishing the story: Narrative ritual in news coverage of the Umpqua Community College shooting

“…Extant literature on the mediatisation of school shootings in general has focused on newsworthiness (Lawrence and Mueller, 2003; Schildkraut et al, 2018), the discourse of fear and moral panic (Altheide, 2009; Burns and Crawford, 2000; Kupchik and Bracy, 2009), and the ethical response of journalists (Blackholm et al, 2012). Many assess attribute-agenda setting and framing of stories in the media (Chyi and McCombs, 2004; Elsass et al, 2016; Kwon and Moon, 2009; Muschert and Carr, 2006; Peelo, 2006; Wondermaghen, 2013) but frame analysis is not the same as narrative analysis. While media frames refer to the mental schemes for presenting and comprehending news (Scheufele, 1999) narrative ritual analysis is concerned with the function of symbolism and storytelling devices journalists rely upon to make sense of the world (Kitch, 2003).…”

Representing school arson in Kenya: An analysis of newspaper reporting

“…This influence has also been referred to as media effects (Potter, 2012: 38). Wondemaghen (2014: 697) states that through framing, especially by including and excluding interpretations, the mass media have the power to direct audiences to those issues which are of concern and those which are not.…”

“…They found that the shootings were initially framed at the individual and community level, then framed based on implications for society, and, finally, the frame changed back to the community level (Muschert and Carr, 2006: 760). Wondemaghen (2014: 696), by contrast, demonstrated that school shootings, as reported in the media ‘. .…”