Firearms follies: how the news media cover gun control

Article Abstract:

Gun control seems to be a perennial issue raised in the press whenever there is a new mass murder, unprovoked assault or just when the issue serves some political agenda. FBI statistics for 1990 report 64% of the nation's 20,045 murders, 23% of the 1,054,863 aggravated assaults and 36% of the 639,271 reported robberies involved the use of firearms. Press coverage of issues involving firearms is largely shoddy and inexcusably biased. Crucial facts are deleted from reports and the topic is treated as one not requiring expertise. Discussions of assault guns rarely define or describe their subject matter.

Statistics, Violent crimes, Media coverage, Gun control, National Rifle Association, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

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Virgins, vamps and the tabloid mentality: A prosecutor contends that when rape makes news, the press offers titillation, not education

Article Abstract:

Linda Fairstein, chief of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit in the District Attorney's Office of New York County, feels that many reporters fail to understand or explain to the public the different issues involved in sex crimes, although there have been improvements in this area over the past 10 years. She feels there is sometimes a racial dimension to some high-profile cases and does not feel that rape victims should be exposed to cameras in rape trials until the public and the media treat rape victims better.

Interview

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