-----Original Message----- From: Vin Suprynowicz (by way of Rick Tompkins/Kathy Harrer <spooner@mail.doitnow.com>) <Vin_Suprynowicz@lvrj.com> To: spooner@doitnow.com <spooner@doitnow.com> Date: Monday, December 20, 1999 1:28 PM Subject: [free-libertarian] The Journalist's Guide to Gun Violence Coverage
>Help your favorite journalist learn how it's done!
>
>>From: "M. Brown" <mb@e-z.net>
>>To: mb@e-z.net
>>Subject: The Journalist's Guide to Gun Violence Coverage
>>Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 14:31:26 -0800
>>Reply-To: mb@e-z.net
>>MIME-Version: 1.0
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>>OAA19478
>>
>>-----The Journalist's Guide to Gun Violence Coverage-----
>>
>>Guns are a sad fact of life in American culture and are a major topic
>>in modern journalism. A good Journalist has a duty to get involved
>>and make a difference in this important societal debate. By following
>>certain guidelines, the concerned Journalist can be assured of having
>>the maximum impact on this shameful problem.
>>
>>The first principle to remember is that subtle use of terminology can
>>covertly influence the reader. Adjectives should be chosen for
>>maximum anti-gun effect. When describing a gun, attach terms like
>>"automatic," "semi-automatic," "large caliber," "deadly," "high
>>powered," or "powerful". Almost any gun can be described by one or
>>more of these terms. More than two guns should be called an
>>"arsenal".
>>
>>Try to include the term "assault weapon" if at all possible. This can
>>be combined with any of the terms above for best results. Nobody
>>actually knows what an assault weapon is, so you cannot be criticized
>>for this usage. Your local anti-gun organization can provide you with
>>a list of the latest buzz words like "junk guns," "Saturday Night
>>Specials," and "the criminal's weapon of choice".
>>
>>Don't worry about getting technical details right. Many a reporter
>>has accidentally written about semi-automatic revolvers or committed
>>other minor errors. Since most people know little about guns, this is
>>not a problem. Only the gun nuts will complain and they don't count.
>>The emotional content of your article is much more important than the
>>factual details, since people are more easily influenced through their
>>emotions than through logic.
>>
>>Broadcast Journalists should have a file tape showing a machine gun
>>firing on full automatic. Run this video while describing "automatic"
>>weapons used in a crime or confiscated by police. At the least, a
>>large graphic of a handgun should be displayed behind the on-air
>>personality when reading any crime story.
>>
>>Do not waste words describing criminals who use guns to commit crimes.
>>Instead of calling them burglar, rapist, murderer, or repeat offender,
>>simply use the term "gunman". This helps the public associate all
>>forms of crime and violence with the possession of guns.
>>
>>Whenever drug dealers are arrested, guns are usually confiscated by
>>the police. Mention the type and number of guns more prominently than
>>the type and quantity of drugs. Include the number of rounds of
>>ammunition seized, since the number will seem large to those who know
>>little about guns. Obviously, the drug dealers who had the guns
>>should now be called "gunmen".
>>
>>Political discussions on gun control legislation usually involve
>>pro-gun organizations. Always refer to these organizations as "the
>>gun lobby". If space permits, mention how much money the gun lobby
>>has spent to influence political campaigns and describe their
>>legislative lobbying efforts as "arm twisting" or "threats".
>>
>>Gun owners must never be seen in a positive light. Do not mention
>>that these misguided individuals may actually be well educated, or
>>have respectable jobs and healthy families. They should be called
>>"gun nuts" if possible or simply gun owners at best. Mention details
>>about their clothing, especially if they are wearing hunting clothes
>>or hats. Mention the simplistic slogans on their bumper stickers to
>>show that their intelligence level is low. Many gun owners drive
>>pickup trucks, hunt and live in rural areas. Use these details to
>>help portray them as ignorant rednecks. Don't use the word "hunt".
>>Always say that they "kill" animals.
>>
>>Don't be afraid to interview these people, they are harmless even
>>though we don't portray them that way. Try to solicit comments that
>>can be taken out of context to show them in the worst possible light.
>>
>>
>>Never question the effectiveness of gun control laws or proposals.
>>Guns are evil and kill people. Removing guns from society can only be
>>good. Nobody really uses guns for legitimate self-defense, especially
>>women or children. Any stories about armed self-defense must be
>>minimized or suppressed.
>>
>>Be careful about criticizing the police for responding slowly to 911
>>calls for help. It is best if the public feels like the police can be
>>relied upon to protect them at all times. If people are buying guns
>>to protect their families, you are not doing your job.
>>
>>Emphasize stories where people kill family members and/or themselves
>>with guns. It is important to make the public feel like they could
>>lose control and start killing at any moment if they have a gun in the
>>house. Any story where a child misuses a gun is front page material.
>>
>>
>>View every shooting as an event to be exploited. Always include
>>emotional quotes from the victim's family if possible. If they are
>>not available, the perpetrator's family will do nicely. The quote
>>must blame the tragedy on the availability of guns. Photos or video
>>of grieving family members are worth a thousand facts. Most people
>>will accept the assertion that guns cause crime. It is much easier
>>than believing that some people deliberately choose to harm others.
>>
>>Your story should include terms like "tragic" or "preventable" and
>>mention the current toll of gun violence in your city or state. Good
>>reporters always know exactly how many gun deaths have occurred in
>>their area since the first of the year. List two or three previous
>>incidents of gun violence to give the impression of a continuing crime
>>wave.
>>
>>Little space should be devoted to shootings where criminals kill each
>>other. Although these deaths greatly inflate the annual gun violence
>>numbers, they distract from the basic mission of urging law abiding
>>citizens to give up their guns. Do not dig too deeply into the
>>reasons behind shootings. The fact that a gun was involved is the
>>major point, unless someone under 18 is affected, in which case the
>>child angle is now of equal importance.
>>
>>Any article about gun violence should include quotes from anti-gun
>>organizations or politicians. One quote should say that we must do
>>something "for the children". Anti-gun spokespersons should be called
>>"activists" or "advocates". If your employer wishes to appear
>>unbiased, you can include one token quote from a gun lobby group to
>>show that you are being fair. The anti-gun statements should be
>>accepted as fact. The gun lobby statement can be denigrated by
>>including text like, "according to gun lobbyist Jones."
>>
>>Fortunately, statements from anti-gun organizations come in short
>>sound bites that are perfect for generating an emotional response in
>>the reader or viewer. Gun lobby statements usually contain boring
>>facts that are easy to ignore.
>>
>>Feel secure in your advocacy journalism. The vast majority of your
>>fellow Journalists support your activism. The nation will be a better
>>place when only the police and military have guns. Remember that you
>>are doing it for the children so the end justifies the means.
>>
>>Eventually, the government will have a monopoly on power. Don't worry
>>about the right to freedom of the press, just contact me then for
>>more helpful hints.
>>
>>Professor Michael Brown
>>School of Journalism, Brady Chair
>>Vancouver College of Liberal Arts
>>
>>
>>Political Satire, copyright 1999, Michael Brown. May be reproduced
>>freely in its full and complete form. The author may be contacted at
>>mb@e-z.net
>>
>>May be copied in HTML form from http://geocities.datacellar.net/rkba2000
>
>
>Vin Suprynowicz, vin@lvrj.com
>
>"The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but by him who resists it." -- John
>Hay, 1872
>
>"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- and
>thus clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endless series
>of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." -- H.L. Mencken
>
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