News Media Coverage of Gun Violence: A Systematic Review

Abstract

We provide a targeted review of research on gun violence and the news media in the United States. Starting with an initial search yielding 923 potential sources, we apply the PRISMA protocol to refine our focus to 80 peer-reviewed, empirical studies published since the year 2000. We identify several consensus findings. First, news media coverage of shooting incidents tends to be greater for incidents that: involve numerous victims, particularly when they are women and/or children; occur in schools, religious sites, or government buildings; or are carried out by perpetrators who are young, who are ideologically driven, and/or who show signs of severe mental illness. Second, race plays a significant role in shaping narrative frames, often protecting white individuals, regardless of whether they are victim or perpetrator. Third, media narratives have displayed dynamic evolution over the course of decades, transitioning from framing gun violence as an isolated, episodic issue to addressing it as a broader societal concern. Finally, news coverage of gun violence negatively impacts audience emotions, especially by elevating fear, and is associated with increased gun background checks, suggestive of more gun purchasing. However, the tangible influence of news coverage on inciting further violence remains contested. Limitations of our review include its narrow scope and exclusion of social media, an important aspect of contemporary discourse. We identify a need for more inclusive demographic identity representation in the literature and, finally, we discuss the intricacies of three interrelated elements: the occurrence of different types of gun violence, the level of news media attention they receive, and the extent of academic research investigating these media portrayals.