"Just Another Tragedy": A Content Analysis of the Orlando and Las Vegas Shooting

Author(s)

Ryan DufourFollow

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Keywords

Media Effects; Orlando Shooting; Las Vegas; Framing; Terrorism; Mass Shooting

Department

Political Science

Major

Political Science

Abstract

The Orlando and Las Vegas shootings were both attacks by a sole perpetrator on “soft target” entertainment venues and are the two deadliest mass shooting in American history. Both shooters were U.S. born citizens, used multiple weapons, obtained them legally, and methodically planned out how they would attack. While strikingly similar in nature and execution, the media covered the two shootings differently. Based on a content analysis I found that news coverage more often framed the Orlando shooting as a terrorist attack. In addition the Orlando coverage focused on the race and religion of the shooter. The Las Vegas shooting received no such labels in news coverage. To do so, I employ a content analysis of four major news outlets (CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post) to examine if the frames the media has used in prior coverage of terrorist attacks and mass shootings persist in the coverage of these two events. I find Orlando coverage focused on the race and religion of the shooter, while Las Vegas coverage was more likely to discuss the shooter’s background in an attempt to understand why the shooter committed the act. This study offers insights into how the mass media reported on the two deadliest mass shootings in American history during an era when these tragedies feel a part of everyday life.

Faculty Mentor

Brian Newman

Funding Source or Research Program

Political Science Honors Program

Presentation Session

Session B

Location

BPC 189

Start Date

23-3-2018 4:45 PM

End Date

23-3-2018 5:00 PM

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Mar 23rd, 4:45 PM Mar 23rd, 5:00 PM

"Just Another Tragedy": A Content Analysis of the Orlando and Las Vegas Shooting

BPC 189

The Orlando and Las Vegas shootings were both attacks by a sole perpetrator on “soft target” entertainment venues and are the two deadliest mass shooting in American history. Both shooters were U.S. born citizens, used multiple weapons, obtained them legally, and methodically planned out how they would attack. While strikingly similar in nature and execution, the media covered the two shootings differently. Based on a content analysis I found that news coverage more often framed the Orlando shooting as a terrorist attack. In addition the Orlando coverage focused on the race and religion of the shooter. The Las Vegas shooting received no such labels in news coverage. To do so, I employ a content analysis of four major news outlets (CNN, NBC News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post) to examine if the frames the media has used in prior coverage of terrorist attacks and mass shootings persist in the coverage of these two events. I find Orlando coverage focused on the race and religion of the shooter, while Las Vegas coverage was more likely to discuss the shooter’s background in an attempt to understand why the shooter committed the act. This study offers insights into how the mass media reported on the two deadliest mass shootings in American history during an era when these tragedies feel a part of everyday life.