Dear Media: Stop publishing names of mass shooting murderers
Dear Media: Stop publishing names of mass shooting murderers
The Issue
Urge the Associated Press to update its Stylebook to instruct journalists and media organizations to stop publishing names of the perpetrators in mass shootings.
Since It seems that the shooters in mass murders at schools, universities, churches, malls and more are looking for fame, let's insist the media cut off the fame-fuel by NOT publishing the names of shooters in mass shootings.
We don't have to wait on politicians to make a difference and work to curb mass shootings. Sign this petition now, then share it with your networks.
This plea is building on what Zeynep Tufekci called for in this New York Times article on Aug. 27, 2015, after a shooting on live television in Virginia: The Virginia Shooter Wanted Fame. Let’s Not Give It to Him.
An excerpt:
These killers act knowing that their ploy is likely to work, and that their faces, words and vicious deeds will be splashed on our screens on their terms.
We can change this by changing the way we cover these stories, similar to the way that the news media did for suicides.
...
The media needs to adopt a similar sensible framework to covering mass killings. And in the age of social media, that also means changing our own behavior.
More:
- From Police Magazine, Dec. 23, 2013: "Families Ask Media to Stop Publicizing Names of Mass Shooters"
- From The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 8, 2013: "What Mass Killers Want -- And How to Stop Them."
- From The Atlantic, May 29, 2014: "The Media Can Prvent Mass Murderers from Becoming Famous."
- From VOX, Oct. 1, 2015: "Gun Violence Statistics."
- From Mother Ones, Oct. 6, 2015, "How the Media Inspires Mass Shooters"
From the AP Stylebook's website:
The AP Stylebook is a writing style guide for journalists. It is published and updated annually to reflect changes in writing style and new guidelines.
Updated regularly since its initial publication in 1953, the AP Stylebook is a must-have reference for writers, editors, students and professionals. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style. It is the definitive resource for journalists.
Associated Press, it's time for an update: Instruct the media to stop publishing the names of shooters in mass shootings NOW.
Image credit: Torgny Bjers
The Issue
Urge the Associated Press to update its Stylebook to instruct journalists and media organizations to stop publishing names of the perpetrators in mass shootings.
Since It seems that the shooters in mass murders at schools, universities, churches, malls and more are looking for fame, let's insist the media cut off the fame-fuel by NOT publishing the names of shooters in mass shootings.
We don't have to wait on politicians to make a difference and work to curb mass shootings. Sign this petition now, then share it with your networks.
This plea is building on what Zeynep Tufekci called for in this New York Times article on Aug. 27, 2015, after a shooting on live television in Virginia: The Virginia Shooter Wanted Fame. Let’s Not Give It to Him.
An excerpt:
These killers act knowing that their ploy is likely to work, and that their faces, words and vicious deeds will be splashed on our screens on their terms.
We can change this by changing the way we cover these stories, similar to the way that the news media did for suicides.
...
The media needs to adopt a similar sensible framework to covering mass killings. And in the age of social media, that also means changing our own behavior.
More:
- From Police Magazine, Dec. 23, 2013: "Families Ask Media to Stop Publicizing Names of Mass Shooters"
- From The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 8, 2013: "What Mass Killers Want -- And How to Stop Them."
- From The Atlantic, May 29, 2014: "The Media Can Prvent Mass Murderers from Becoming Famous."
- From VOX, Oct. 1, 2015: "Gun Violence Statistics."
- From Mother Ones, Oct. 6, 2015, "How the Media Inspires Mass Shooters"
From the AP Stylebook's website:
The AP Stylebook is a writing style guide for journalists. It is published and updated annually to reflect changes in writing style and new guidelines.
Updated regularly since its initial publication in 1953, the AP Stylebook is a must-have reference for writers, editors, students and professionals. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style. It is the definitive resource for journalists.
Associated Press, it's time for an update: Instruct the media to stop publishing the names of shooters in mass shootings NOW.
Image credit: Torgny Bjers
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Petition created on October 2, 2015