This document provides best practices for journalists reporting on mass shootings, highlighting the frequency of such incidents in the U.S. It emphasizes the importance of safety for victims and responders, discourages speculation, and advises caution during interviews and reporting. Additional resources for ethical reporting and support for journalists are also provided.

1. Reporting on Mass Shootings
* Resources compiled for Excellence in Journalism 2018 *
Mass shootings with at least four victims occur as often as nine out of every 10 days in the
United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. As a result, newsrooms across the country
are often tasked with reporting on shootings and their aftermaths. This document hopes to
provide journalists and newsrooms with some best practices during those difficult times.
General Suggestions:
• Journalists should not interfere with active shooter or hostage situations. While the
urge to conduct original reporting is strong, journalists can endanger lives by trying to
contact people and suspects during active situations. Additionally, journalists should not
try to gain access to locations involved in active shooting situations.
• The safety of victims and first responders is paramount. News organizations should not
report information that would risk people’s lives.
• Journalists should be cautious when interviewing victims – especially children – during
or immediately after shootings. Interviews may endanger victims during shootings.
Additionally, the information is often incorrect.
• News organizations should use delays on live broadcasts whenever possible. Active
shooting situations are often unpredictable. Journalists, editors and producers have a
responsibility to protect viewers and listeners from trauma.
• News organizations and journalists should shun, avoid and discourage speculation and
the use of unverified information. People rely on journalists for information about
loved ones and public safety during active shootings. Journalists must be clear about
what is known and what is not known. The public should also be warned that
information may change during breaking news events.
• News organizations and journalists should not romanticize the suspect or perpetrator
through flashy graphics or repeated exposure. The public deserves to know who is
suspected of committing such a terrible event. News organizations should feel free to
report the suspect’s name and show his or her image, but not excessively.
• News organizations should be mindful of the physical and mental safety of their
newsroom staff. Journalists, editors and producers should not be put in harm’s way to
report on active shooting situations. Additionally, staff should be able to receive
emotional and mental health support after covering mass shootings.
Additional Resources:
Resources from the Dart Center: http://bit.ly/DartMass SPJ Code of Ethics: http://bit.ly/ethicspj
Resources from Poynter: http://bit.ly/PoynterMass RTDNA Code of Ethics: http://bit.ly/RTDNAcode
RTDNA Guidelines: http://bit.ly/RTDNAguidelines RTDNA Video: http://bit.ly/RTDNAvid