118 SCON 15 IS: Calling on the media to engage in responsible and voluntary journalistic practices to deny mass public murderers the attention they desire and minimize any possible “media contagion effect” of irresponsible and sensationalistic reporting practices.
U.S. Senate
2023-07-18
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
Whereas all acts of mass public murder are shameful, cowardly, sickening, and hereby condemned;Whereas many mass public murderers have openly stated their intention to commit mass murder to gain notoriety, infamy, and affect changes in public policy;Whereas the United States media widely publicizes these murderers’ names, photographs, life stories, motivations, social media posts, and manifestos, giving criminals the notoriety and infamy they desire;Whereas media coverage of a mass public murderer routinely outweighs the coverage of the victims;Whereas many mass public murderers have researched, studied, and idolized past acts of violence using the sensationalistic coverage provided by many media outlets;Whereas peer reviewed research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that current media coverage practices concerning mass public shootings demonstrably increase the likelihood of future mass public murders, including—(1)a 2016 study entitled Mass Shootings and the Media Contagion Effect
published by the American Psychological Association, which suggests a media contagion effect;(2)a 2017 study entitled Mass Shootings: The Role of the Media in Promoting Generalized Imitation
published in the American Journal of Public Health, which suggests a generalized imitation effect; and(3)a 2022 study entitled News coverage and mass shootings in the U.S.
published in the European Economic Review, which suggests a behavioral contagion mechanism;Whereas research by the Violence Project suggests that mass public shootings are linked to and may be a form of suicide; andWhereas the media has found ways to responsibly and voluntarily limit coverage of other sensitive topics such as suicide, kidnapping, and national security for the common good: Now, therefore, be it That Congress calls upon the media to voluntarily and responsibly—(1)cover mass public murderers with the similar sensitivity as other forms of suicide completion, with the understanding that a media contagion effect may encourage additional tragedies;(2)prioritize memorialization and coverage of the names, faces, and life stories of innocent victims killed or injured in a mass public murder;(3)prioritize coverage of the heroism of any law enforcement, first responders, or bystanders that intervene, interrupt the attack, kill or subdue the mass public murderer, or otherwise assist the victims with critical medical assistance;(4)minimize harm by implementing policies and procedures to deny mass public murderers the infamy, notoriety, and public platform they desire;(5)deny mass public murderers their publicity-related motives and intended goals, such as the promotion of a particular ideology or public policy change;(6)not name suspected public murderers, except when the alleged assailant is still at large and it would aid in the suspect’s capture;(7)not publish photos of a suspected public murderer, except when the alleged assailant is still at large and it would aid in the suspect’s capture;(8)avoid utilizing flattering social media profile pictures and other imagery the mass public murderer proudly took of themselves, shared with others, or posted on social media;(9)refrain from naming mass public murderers in headlines and from displaying photos of mass public murderers above the fold of any print copy or at the top of any website’s home page; and(10)promote data and analysis in mental health, criminology, public safety, self-defense, security, and other relevant professions to support further steps to help eliminate the motivations behind mass public murder and deter future attacks.