News Media Coverage of Gun Violence: A Scoping Review

This scoping review synthesizes recently published research on news media coverage of gun violence in the United States. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search of Web of Science and Google Scholar databases identified 76 peer-reviewed empirical studies published since 2000. Analysis reveals several recurring themes. First, news media coverage tends to be greater for incidents involving numerous victims, particularly women and/or children; occurring in schools, religious sites, or government buildings; or carried out by perpetrators who are young, ideologically driven, and/or show signs of severe mental illness. Second, race plays a significant role in shaping narrative frames, with media portrayals often depicting white individuals more sympathetically compared to racially minoritized individuals, regardless of whether they are victim or perpetrator. Third, media narratives display dynamic evolution over decades, transitioning from framing gun violence as isolated and episodic to addressing it as a part of broader social contexts and societal concerns. Finally, news coverage of gun violence is associated with negative audience emotions, especially fear, as well as with increased gun background checks suggestive of accelerated gun purchasing. Regarding media coverage's role in inciting further violence, however, studies present mixed findings. Limitations include the exclusion of social media discourse, which warrants study in future research. Future studies should also examine how news media coverage represents individuals across diverse gender identities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and disability statuses, while adopting intersectional perspectives. Three interrelated conclusions emerge from this analysis: the different types of gun violence that occur, the level of news media attention each receives, and the academic research that has investigated these media portrayals to date.