Media and Public Perceptions

On May 18, 1927, a farmer angered by property taxes that helped build a local school building in Bath, MI, murdered his wife. Then he burned down their house, detonated over 1,000 pounds of dynamite he had placed within the school, and drove his truck up to the school and discharged another explosive, killing 45 people and injuring another 58. On April 20, 1999 (72 years after the Bath, MI, massacre), two students at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, carried out a well-planned massacre that involved multiple explosives and a shooting spree, which killed 14 people, including the perpetrators, and injured 21 more. The Bath, MI, disaster received only limited media coverage, lasting about a week before the story left the headlines. In contrast, the Columbine shooting received extensive media coverage and—to this day—remains a cultural touchstone in terms of public perceptions about mass violence and safety in schools. For this Discussion, you will examine both of these examples of school violence as presented in the Week 8 Case Studies document located in this week’s Learning Resources. Post the following: Explain if and how the media overstates school violence. Justify your explanation and provide an example. Explain if and how the media leads to copycat violence. Justify your explanation and provide an example. Explain if and how the media contributes to stereotypes of crime. Justify your explanation and provide an example. Explain if and how the media shapes society’s perceptions about mass violence. Justify your explanation and provide an example. Explain if and how social media and the 24-hour news cycle impact perceptions of violence differently as compared to more traditional sources, such as television, radio, and newspapers. Note: Your post should be substantial (1 paragraph or more for each bullet point above), supported with scholarly evidence from your research and/or the Learning Resources, and properly cited using APA style.