Oregon Community College Shooting: Resources for Journalists

A gunman killed ten people and injured seven at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, law enforcement officials said today. The campus remains on lockdown.

The college is in Roseburg, a small town in rural southwestern Oregon, about three-hours south of Portland.

Please consult and share the Dart Center's resources on covering school shootings:

COVERING MASS KILLINGS

Psychiatrist Frank Ochberg, M.D. and Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center, share insights on covering mass killings in the aftermath of the 2011 Arizona shooting that left six dead and a U.S. Congresswoman grievously injured.

Reporter Dave Cullen's lessons from a decade of reporting on the Columbine attacks.

A self-study unit on covering terrorism.

A compilation of journalist-to-journalist advice, from those who have covered large-scale shootings.

Professor Meg Moritz shares four lessons on covering school shootings.

Quick tips on working with victims and survivors from Dart Centre Asia Pacific.

Resources for Covering Mass Shootings: The Dart Center's Gavin Rees reflects on the 2010 Cumbria Tragedy and sand offers resources for journalists.

In a piece for Walkley magazine, the Dart Center's Bruce Shapiro points to some of what we've learned from covering mass shootings.

"Tragedies and Journalists": the Dart Center's comprehensive guide for reporters, editors, photographers and managers on every aspect of covering tragedy.

"Best Practices in Trauma Reporting," drawn from a decade of Dart Award-winning stories.

Scientific consensus, made readable, on the effects of traumatic coverage on journalists and on media consumers. 

The International Center for Journalists's guide on Journalism and Trauma

Recovery from Unnatural Death: A guide by psychiatrist Ted Rynearson for friends and family of someone who has died violently or suddenly.

Working with victims and survivors: Journalists, researchers and mental health professionals offer advice on how to deal with people caught up in tragic events.

COVERING GUNS

Resources from our recent workshop on covering guns and gun violence, including expert briefing materials, transcripts, video, reporter tipsheets, Q&A’s with panelists along with an array of links to online national databases, fact sheets, articles and other information.

In this video James Grimaldi, investigative reporter at the Wall Street Journal, gives a hard-hitting talk on how to investigate gun sales.

Naming Killers? Families of mass shooting victims ask media not to name shooters.

Firearm Terminology and Vocabulary: A basic guide for describing firearms, accessories, and safety or regulatory technologies.

ATF Crime gun trace data: state-level data only but can be obtained for earlier years by public record request.

Fact Sheet by National Shooting Sports Foundation: Why the Firearms Industry Opposes Background Checks.

National Violent Death Reporting System: NVDRS is the only state-based surveillance reporting system that pools data on violent deaths from multiple sources into a usable, anonymous database. These sources include state and local medical examiner, coroner, law enforcement, crime lab, and vital statistics records. 

Gallup Poll on household gun ownership.

ADVICE FOR EDITORS

Tips for managers and editors to help them prepare and support reporters in the field.

Dart Center Executive Director Bruce Shapiro passes on lessons for newsrooms learned from the Virginia Tech shooting.

Quick tips on how to support your reporters.

SELF-CARE

Quick tips on self-care from Dart Centre Asia Pacific.

Self-care advice from an editor who's been there.