Facing the evil truth: Domestic terrorists and media sensationalism

School shootings, bombings and mass shooters. The commonality that these horrific events share when they take place on American soil is that they are acts of domestic terrorism. The American public has become all too accustomed to these events because as they happen, they are televised on every large news networks.

The face of the individual who killed and maimed innocent people is plastered nearly everywhere and, in addition to the sensationalism on television, social media takes hold and an entirely new monster is bred. How society deals with these delicate events has a deep societal impact that must be carefully and critically examined to begin remedying the gross over-dramatization of such sensitive events.

To fully understand domestic terrorism, it is important to examine the various social aspects attached to it. When the term “terrorist” is uttered, the stereotypical middle-eastern man is usually the first thing people think of. However, the domestic terrorists who have wreaked havoc on the lives of many have not fit that stereotype.

Startlingly, the source of many lives lost has been white males. The Columbine shooting that claimed 13 victims, the shooting at Sandy Hook that claimed 20 children and six adults, the speeding car killing one and injuring 19 in Charlottesville, Virginia, were all white males. The face of domestic terrorism is not pigeonholed to one specific race, ethnicity or political party.

Extensive research has been done to support why the sensationalism of individuals who commit such heinous acts of violence have detrimental effects on society. In his academic editorial entitled “Shooting Rampages, Mental Health, and the Sensationalization of Violence” Miguel A. Faria Jr., clinical professor of neurosurgery and adjunct professor of medical history at Mercer University School of Medicine, wrote, “when the television was introduced up to half of all homicides, rapes, and violent assaults in the U.S. were directly attributed to violence on television…and that was when violence on TV was nothing compared to the rampant and graphic violence depicted today in the movies, on TV, and now on the Internet.”

Faria also pointed out the issue of the “copycat effect” a social phenomenon, “incited by the way the media report the news and the velocity with which it travels in modern society in the information age.”

Showing the faces and giving notoriety to individuals who have committed extreme acts of violence has a profoundly detrimental impact on society. The question then remains, how do major news networks inform the public of such events without sensationalizing the events that took place? Is that even possible to achieve in today’s society when social media exists?

News sources have a responsibility to report the facts and it is imperative for the public to know every side of the story. Showing the face of a domestic terrorist is arguably part of letting the public in on every side. However, the media is notorious for sensationalizing events and drawing unneeded attention to individuals who have committed serious acts of violence. The media hardly consider how it impacts the victims, the victim’s families, or how it could impact society as a whole.

It is undeniable that getting to know the details of the perpetrator helps to track and stay informed on dangerous patterns of violent behavior, but there should be a limited amount of coverage on that person. Furthermore, in every case of domestic terrorism, a limit should be imposed on the number of times their face is shown to minimize the copycat effect and their claim to infamy.