Gun violence
Gun violence
Resources for covering mass shootings and campus shootings
USA Today Database on Mass Shootings
Mass Killings in America Database
A massive database launched in October 2022 by USA Today, AP and Northeastern University.
Mother Jones Mass Shootings Database
Stanford Libraries Mass Shootings Database
Datasets: U.S. Mass Shootings
Results from the Google Dataset Search Tool
Gun Violence Archive
Charts, data, congressional reports, etc. Run by a not for profit corporation formed in 2013 to provide free online public access to accurate information about gun-related violence in the United States. GVA will collect and check for accuracy, comprehensive information about gun-related violence in the U.S.
Journalist’s Resource: Gun Buybacks: What the Research Says
The Journalist’s Resource: Guns and Gun Policy Archive
Articles, explainers, research roundups and tip sheets about guns and gun policy.
Dart Center: Resources for Editors and Reporters Covering Gun Violence
Launched in July 2022.
Dart Center: Resources for Editors and Reporters Covering the Uvalde School Shooting
The Dart Center Style Guide for Trauma-Informed Journalism
The style guide is designed as a quick, authoritative reference for reporters, editors and producers working on tight deadlines. It includes brief evidence-informed guidance on news choices, language usage and ethics in reporting on the impact of trauma on individuals, families and communities; recommendations for appropriate use of relevant psychological and scientific terminology; and special considerations when reporting on consequential trauma-laden issues such as racism and sexual violence.
Poynter: How to Cover the Nashville School Shooting Ethically
IJNet: Tips for Reporting on Gun Violence
First Draft News: Journalism and Vicarious Trauma
A guide for journalists, editors and news organizations.
Google Dataset Search: Mass Shootings Data Results
Journalist’s Resource: How Journalists Cover Mass Shootings — 5 Recent Studies to Consider
Journalist’s Resource: Seven Things Journalists Should Know About Guns
Journalist’s Resource: Six Tips for Reporting on Gun Policy and Gun Violence
The Journalist’s Resource: Can Universal Background Checks Curb Gun Violence?
GIJN: Tips for Interviewing Victims of Tragedy, Witnesses and Survivors
Brookings Institute: Nine Questions to Ask After a Terrorist Attack
Brookings Institute: Gun Violence Charts
ReportingMassShootings.org
From Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, this site offers many great tips and guides.
NPR: There are Two Ways Media Cover Mass Shootings — and the Difference Matters
Trusting News: Explain Your Goals, Process and Integrity When Covering Mass Shootings
The Journalist’s Resource: How School Shootings Hurt Student Achievement and Enrollment
How Journalists’ Jobs Affect Their Mental Health
A research roundup from Harvard’s Journalist’s Resource.
CPJ: Psychological Safety – Covering Gun Violence in Your Community
Nieman Lab: Challenging the Stereotype of Uvalde’s Plucky Child Survivor
NY Times: How State Laws Allowed Military Guns Used in El Paso, Dayton Shootings
IJNet: Tips for Reporting on Gun Violence
Pew Research: What Data Says About Gun Deaths in the U.S.
Gun Violence Archive
Statistics and resources on guns, mass shootings, etc.
Poynter: Notable Media Coverage from Uvalde (Texas) School Shooting (2022)
Covering Mass Tragedies
A guide from the Journalists Covering Trauma Facebook Group.
The Journalist’s Resource: Covering Costs of Firearm Industries
The Journalist’s Resource: Should News Outlets Show Graphic Images of Mass Shooting Victims?
FBI Active Shooter Incident Datbase
CDC: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
The Associated Press: Uvalde School Shooting Coverage
Tips: Responsible Media Coverage of Crisis Events Impacting Children and Youth
From the National Assn. of School Psychologists, a great guide on how to approach the sensitive topic.
Journalist’s Resource: Seven Things Journalists Should Know About Guns
How Journalists Cover Mass Shootings: 5 Recent Studies
From Journalist’s Resource at Harvard University.
Seven Things Journalists Should Know About Guns
From Journalist’s Resource at Harvard University.
Nieman Reports: Why Some Journalists Are Centering Trauma-Informed Reporting – Nieman Reports
Texas Observer: Journalists are First Responders Too
Anti-Defamation League: Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2021
Tools for Reporters: Title IX Tracker and Other Tools for Covering Campus Crime
Journalist’s Resource: Tools for Covering the Orlando Nightclub Mass Shooting
End Family Fire
A movement to promote responsible gun ownership. A partnership between Brady and the Ad Council, its mission is to encourage safe gun storage in the home.
Student Press Law Center: How to Cover Protests and Walkouts
Lafayette Advertiser: Death toll rises in theater shooting
Dart Center: Resources for Reporters Covering Mass Shootings
Dart Center: Trauma and Journalism Handbook
Dart Center: Working with Traumatic Imagery
Dart Center: Covering Children and Trauma
Dart Center: Resources for Covering the Parkland (Florida) School Shooting
IRE22 Tipsheet: Coping with Trauma as a Journalist
Red Cross: Helping Children Cope
Covering Your Campus on Lockdown
Indianapolis Star: Coverage of Purdue Shooting
Twelve Facts About Guns and Mass Shootings
USA Today: Mass Killings Database
The Nation: Fifteen Mass Shootings Happened in 2012
U.S. Mass Shootings in 2012
Map of the shootings with stats, details from The Washington Post.
ProPublica: Best Reporting on Guns
Journalists Resource: Studies on Firearm Violence
Journalists Resource: Research on Mass Shootings
Slate: Myths and Misreporting about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Tips and cautionary tales about reporting on disasters.
The Washington Post: Local Journalists Covering Mass Shootings Share Their Pain on Air
On the Media: Consumers Guide to Breaking News
Partly in jest, this graphic does offer some sound advice.
Denver Post: Timeline of School Shootings Since Columbine
Keep in Mind Seven Lessons in Mind When Interviewing Trauma Survivors
From USC’s Center for Health Journalism.
RJI: Best Practices for Trauma-Informed Journalism
Ground Truth Project: Interviewing People Who Have Experienced Trauma
The Society of Professional Obituary Writers
SAMHSA: Covering Trauma and Violence
Resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.
COVERING/COPING WITH THE TRAUMA
Dart Center: Resources for Reporters Covering Mass Killings
Dart Center: Working with Traumatic Imagery
Tips: Responsible Media Coverage of Crisis Events Impacting Children and Youth
From the National Assn. of School Psychologists, a great guide on how to approach the sensitive topic.
First Draft News Journalist Guides
Guides to social sources, copyright law and covering trauma.
SPLC: Tips for Covering Walkouts and Protests
GIJN: Tips for Interviewing Trauma Victims
Dart Center: Resources for Covering the Parkland (Florida) School Shooting
Brookings Institute: Nine Questions to Ask After a Terrorist Attack
Student Press Law Center: How to Cover Protests and Walkouts
Dart Center: Covering Children and Trauma
25 Longform Storytelling Platforms Every Photographer Should Know
MediaShift: Advice for Journalists Working with Traumatic Imagery
The Journalist’s Resource: How School Shootings Hurt Student Achievement and Enrollment
Red Cross: Helping Children Cope
Covering Your Campus on Lockdown
Infographic: Latest School Shooting Continues America’s Tragic Trend
Good stats and detail on shootings since Sandy Hook, compiled by USC Social Work.
IJNet: Tips for Reporting on Gun Violence
Poynter: How to Cover the Nashville School Shooting Ethically
GIJN: Tips for Interviewing Victims of Tragedy, Witnesses and Survivors
SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND STABBINGS
The Associated Press: Uvalde School Shooting Coverage
Journalist’s Resource: School Violence: Research Findings on Underlying Dynamics, Response and Prevention
Research, links, stories, analysis and a lot of data.
Covering Your Campus on Lockdown
Gun Prevention in Schools: Strategies and Effects
A great collection of research from Journalist’s Resource at Harvard University.
Indianapolis Star: Purdue Shooting Coverage
Anti-Defamation League: Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2021
Denver Post
Timeline of school shootings since Columbine.
Poynter: Notable Media Coverage from Uvalde (Texas) School Shooting (2022)
Dart Center: Covering Children and Trauma
Dart Center: Resources for Educators Training Journalists Covering Sensitive Issues
Resources from San Diego State professor Amy Schmitz Weiss on teaching students to cover topics such as suicide, homicides, sexual assaults and other traumatic news events.
USA Today: Mass Killings Database
The Nation: Fifteen Mass Shootings Happened in 2012
U.S. Mass Shootings in 2012
Map of the shootings with stats, details from The Washington Post.
How to Talk to Kids About School Massacres
Tips for parents to help kids understand it. Good for stories, lists about how to deal with kids in these situations.
ProPublica: Best Reporting on Guns
End Family Fire
A movement to promote responsible gun ownership. A partnership between Brady and the Ad Council, its mission is to encourage safe gun storage in the home.
Journalists Resource: Studies on Firearm Violence
Journalists Resource: Research on Mass Shootings
BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING
Journalist’s Resource: Income Inequality and Teen Bullying
Dart Center: Online Abuse: A Self-Defense Guide
Cyberbully.org
Resources for writing about online bullying.
STATISTICS AND STUDIES
Center at Georgetown University for the Study of Violence: Violence News
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
U.S. Department of Education Campus Security Stats
A searchable database of crime at more than 6,000 colleges and universities. The database contains statistics for criminal offenses, hate offenses and arrests for the past three years.
The National Criminal Justice Service
Site releases an annual report that presents data on violent deaths at schools, other types of violence and crime, nonfatal student and teacher victimization, drug use, and more.
School Violence PAVN
A summary of trends and statistics on school safety and violence, sponsored by several government agencies.
UK: Bullying Online
A UK journalist shares this site, which is based in England but deals with school bullying issues from all over the world. Many reference and tips for parents, administrators, kids, etc.
CNN’s School Violence Statistics
Several helpful statistics tables.
National Education Association’s National Bullying Awareness Campaign
Do a search on “bullying.”
Journalist’s Resource: Gun Buybacks: What the Research Says
Kids Health for Parents: Bullying and Your Child
Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General
ANALYSIS
Infographic: Latest School Shooting Continues America’s Tragic Trend
Good stats and detail on shootings since Sandy Hook, compiled by USC Social Work.
COVERING SUICIDE
ReportingonSuicide.org
A downloadable guide with dozens of tipsheets, suggestions and what to do. Very helpful lists for readers.
Dart Center: Resources for Covering Suicide
Association of Health Care Journalists: Covering Suicide
American Association of Suicidology
VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS SHOOTINGS
National Institute of Mental Health
Studies and sources are helpful for background stories.
American College Health Association
Kickbully.com – Your Guide To Fighting Workplace Bullying
USA Today Database on Mass Shootings
SANTANA
San Diego Union Tribune’s Santana Shootings Coverage
Links to the coverage of the school shootings. Updated regularly.
Resources | Tools | Training