School shootings unfortunately are not front-page news in America, as every student in the building has been through a lockdown drill prepping for that exact situation. However, as time goes on fewer and fewer people are discussing these earth-shattering events.
As mass shootings in schools a climbed over the last few decades, media outlets headlined the tragic events that took place inside the school walls. However, now these media sources are failing to report on these depressing and detrimental events. This invites the question of why have the reports of school shootings decreased despite a gradual increase in these tragedies. Well to some extent the American public has become desensitized to them. With examples like Uvalde, Parkland, and Oxford, the smaller, less fatal school shootings are “nothing” to write about.
With multiple other major events going on, there is more competition between media headlines to cover the most groundbreaking events. Things like former president Donald Trump’s trial, the Israel and Palestine war, Iran’s president’s unexpected death, and even the Ukraine War are all notable things that have happened taking control of the media headlines. Things like school shootings, that are specific to American citizens, aren’t going to garner as much attention because these other events involve a worldwide scale. Media outlets intentionally try to overshadow their own nation’s issues with other countries’ problems to encourage patriotism. Unfortunately at the end of the day, news outlets cover what will get them more views and money instead of focusing on the truth of what is going on in their own country.
While school shooting stats seem to be low compared to previous years, it is important to keep in mind that we are not even halfway through the year. Although we can’t say for certain until the year is over, it seems that the pattern will hold steady. Hopefully, there is a possibility that media sources are reporting less about school shootings because they are happening more infrequently; however, we won’t know until the end of the year.
Even though school shootings happen, the stories of the victims are not being told and heard as often. With there being a variety of other world events occurring, the events that affect America’s children are being avoided. This is not to say that the events and problems arising in other countries are not headline news because they deserve media attention as well. There needs to be more equal coverage of all events to keep people educated, aware, and informed.
