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Media construction of a school shooting as a social problem

Wondemaghen, Meron

Authors



Abstract

The Monash University shooting which occurred in 2002, in Melbourne Australia, is analysed using claims-making theory and the four-stage natural history model of social problems. As Spector and Kitsuse argue, social problems 'are what people think they are' rather than objective problems. This incident - a shooting of two classmates by a mentally ill offender who suffered from persecutory delusions - was framed as a gun problem rather than a socially or psychologically related crime. In doing so, journalists made claims or emphasised the claims of selected voices in order to promote a specific social problem over others and, in turn, reinforce political arguments for tougher gun laws and policy measures. The implication with this type of coverage is that it results in not addressing appropriately the real causes of the problem; in this case violence as a coping mechanism by a mentally ill offender. This study offers a useful model to study media reporting of a claimed social problem and its influence in the policy process, decision and development. © The Author(s) 2013.

Citation

Wondemaghen, M. (2014). Media construction of a school shooting as a social problem. Journalism, 15(6), 696-712. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884913496498

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 24, 2013
Online Publication Date Jul 24, 2013
Publication Date Jan 1, 2014
Deposit Date Sep 9, 2022
Journal Journalism
Print ISSN 1464-8849
Electronic ISSN 1741-3001
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 6
Pages 696-712
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884913496498
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4056778