Death Across the News Spectrum: A Time Series Analysis of Partisan Coverage Following Mass Shootings in the United States Between 2012 and 2014

Authors

  • Ayellet Pelled School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Josephine Lukito Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas - Austin
  • Jordan Foley Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University
  • Yini Zhang Department of Communication, University at Buffalo
  • Zhongkai Sun Department of Computer science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Jon C.W. Pevehouse Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • Dhavan V. Shah School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Keywords:

news values, mass shootings, partisan media, news media ecology, time series

Abstract

Mass shootings spur intense coverage across the ideological news media spectrum. A comparative analysis of news attention to verified features of events across partisan news outlets provides opportunities to understand the news values driving coverage in each of these venues. To examine these relationships, we conducted time-series analyses using a unique data set of 59 mass shooting events coded for characteristics of victims, shooters, and context, contrasted with coverage in six major news outlets during 2012–2014. We found that, although certain factors drive news coverage of gun violence, gun rights, and gun control across the ideological spectrum, differential patterns emerge based on contextual particularities. Across all news media, a higher number of non-Black victims drove up coverage. For moderate and conservative news media, a higher number of Black victims predicted reduced coverage. Child deaths drove up coverage of gun rights in moderate news outlets. No feature predicted gun rights discussions in conservative news outlets, suggesting that their focus on gun rights was driven by other factors.

Author Biographies

Ayellet Pelled, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Doctoral candidate at the school of Journalism & Mass Communication, UW-Madison, WisconsinPhone: 608-886-6679pelled@wisc.eduayelletpelled@gmail.com

Josephine Lukito, Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas - Austin

Assitant Professor at the School of Journalism and Media, Moody College of communicationUniversity of Texas - AustinPhone: 646-467-2114

Jordan Foley, Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University

Assistant professor in the Journalism and Media Production department in the Murrow CollegeWashington State University

Yini Zhang, Department of Communication, University at Buffalo

Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication, University at BuffaloPhone: 6088866130

Zhongkai Sun, Department of Computer science, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Research Assistant , UW-MadisonPhone: 6083583171contact info via linkedin: linkedin.com/in/zhongkai-sun-89073113a

Jon C.W. Pevehouse, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Professor at the department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin–MadisonOffice Phone: (608) 262-4839

Dhavan V. Shah, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Dhavan Shah is Maier-Bascom Professor and Director of the Mass Communication Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work concerns message construction and social influence, digital media influence on civic life, and the impact of ICTs on chronic disease management.Office Phone:608-262-0388

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Published

2021-04-29

Issue

Vol. 15 (2021)

Section

Articles

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