>From the onset, the media has had an enormous responsibility in covering the controversy effectively. However, many are currently concerned with media's involvement in the debate, questioning their accuracy, the effects of their coverage, and if media is bias in its accounts. With occurrences of gun violence on the rise in schools, churches, and places of employment, media has been thrust into action to get the coverage. It is the manner in which that media chooses to cover these tragedies, that is being called into question. An industry that once prided itself on facilitating democracy and informing the public, has now blurred the lines between news and entertainment, thereby undermining their own accountability, making them a key issue in the debates concerning gun control.

Much of the problem with the media's coverage of gun related issues, is their inaccuracy in reporting the stories. Events are often misconstrued by the me

What are the effects of such media coverage? First, you have to consider the immense volume of the coverage being discussed, and then examine how much of the information influences the audience. The Colorado shootings that occurred at the hands of two disaffected classmates generated over 150 stories on the network evening newscasts within one week of the shooting (and a total of 292 stories to date), in addition to the extensive live local and national television coverage of the shooting as they occurred. Similarly, shooting at eight separate public schools around the country generated 378 stories and more than 10 hours of airtime within the first seven days of each incident (Lichter, Holian). The shooting that occurred at Columbine ranked the third most covered story within the decade, only to be beaten out by the Rodney King Verdict and the TWA crash of flight 800 (Lichter, Holian). The problem is that such heavily concentrated attention on a few tragic incidents may distor!

st the story first to the public. The shootings that took place in Atlanta have illustrated so far that in the 24 hour news cycle, airing premature claims and generalizations is more important than pausing to double check the facts (Torobin). Conflicting reports from its Atlanta affiliates convinced CNN to hold back its coverage, claiming that, "Our editorial edition was to be accurate with what we went with, rather then being concerned with being first"(Torobin). However, much of that coverage wasn't nearly as cautious. CNN broadcasters made comments asserting that the gunman had in fact murdered his family in a 1993 rampage, a charge which he had been clearly fully of.

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If the media is not accepting its part of the blame, then who or what are they placing the blame on? The Internet, weak gun control legislation, violent movies, violent computer games, violent music, violent television, parents out of touch with their kids, male identity crisis, lack of parental supervision, and bisexuality have all served as the scapegoat for media's role in the recent outlash of shootings in America's schools (After School). When sources or reporters addressed the causes of these shootings, they blamed societal causes more frequently than individual ones, by 55 percent to 45 percent according to a new study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs. Sixty-three of on air criticisms of popular entertainment and 88 percent of news sources who blamed guns treated each shooting in the news as a symptom of broader social problems, rather than limiting their comments to the shooters involved (Lichter, Holian). Still, within hours of the shooting at Columbine High!

and avoiding sensationalism. In short, a large majority of news professionals sense a degradation of the culture of news - from one that was steeped in the verification and a steadfast respect for the facts, toward one that favors argument, opinion mongering, haste, and infotainment (Kovach).

Kovach, Bill. The National Survey of Journalists. The Committee of Concerned Journalists and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

Boze

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