Lessons from Virginia Tech: Exploring Disparities & Commonalities Between Visual Coverage in U.S. Newspapers & Victims' Families' Perceptions

Abstract

Using a multi-method approach, the researchers examined the visual content of the Virginia Tech shootings in U.S. newspapers during the 3 days following the event and conducted interviews with a few members of the victims' families examining their perceptions of the photographic coverage. This exploratory study analyzed 2079 photographs in terms of the crime and suspect frame and the tension management frame. It also examined the use of the graphic device in the visual coverage. Then, inspired by the photo elicitation technique, perceptions of media coverage held by three families of the victims were examined and suggestions for improving the visual coverage of similar events in the future were recorded. Thus, the outcome of the difficult ethical decisions newspaper editors must make while covering traumatic events and the perceptions of those directly affected by the events were explored. Results of this study represent a step toward offering resources for thinking about the visual coverage of tragic events in more responsible ways.

Shahira Fahmy is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona. Her research interests primarily focus on visual communication with an international perspective, as well as political communication and media performance during wartime. Fahmy is also on the Editorial Board of this publication. Correspondence should be sent to:.

Sara J. Roedl is a PhD candidate at Southern Illinois University. Her research interests include advertising, visual communication, and mass communication.

Picture Credit: Figure between pages 98 and 99. Images from NBC shows gunman Cho Seung-Hui in part of a package mailed to the network between Chos' first and second bursts of gunfire on the Virginia Tech campus. Original in color. Courtesy of The Associated Press. It should be noted that the image is set within what is called the “gutter” by graphic designers.

Notes

*p <,. 05

***p <,. 001

***p <. 001

*p <. 05

*** p <. 001

¹Some family members who had planned to give interviews immediately cancelled their plans after NBC decided to air portions of the video and pictures sent by the shooter.

²Kratzer and Kratzer found that editors base their decisions heavily on their expectations of audience's response. In contrast, Tai and Chang found that editors' decisions are influenced by what they feel their audience want to see covered.

³Other studies have content analyzed pictures from events available on the front pages of newspapers archived on the Newseum website (i.e., see Fahmy et al., 2007).

⁴The interviews were coordinated with the cooperation of Vincent Bove, a certified protection professional, representing the victims' families. Due to the delicacy of the issue under study, however, only three families agreed to be interviewed. A major obstacle the researchers faced was the fact that the majority of the family members were advised by their lawyers not to talk to anyone, including those involved in research projects examining the tragedy.

⁵It is important to note that stories covering solutions always come after the event and its immediate aftermath has subsided. For example, at least three of the Virginia papers (and others) wrote extensive pieces the following Sunday (or later) about these issues.

⁶One family member supplied the researchers with an extensive list of school security-related grievances.

⁷Teachers, peers, and advisors noticed he was socially awkward, withdrawn, lonely, and angry but did little to address his frustration or deal with his mental health issues.