Look At It This Way

Seeing old things in new ways.

by Stephen Mason, Ph.D.

Is Violence in Schools Increasing?

By Stephen Mason, Ph.D. on July 10, 2009 in Look At It This Way

Reading the papers or watching the TV news, you'll probably get the idea that the world is a dangerous place full of crime and mayhem. Just look at the number of school shootings. What's the cause of all this increased violence? Read More

The news is quick to print

Submitted by Gina R on July 12, 2009 - 8:19pm.

The news is quick to print tragedy when it's out of the ordinary. But what about the acts of mayhem that aren't so random? What should the news do when mayhem is reality? You mentioned school violence--one shooting in a small suburban town can be the front page. But there are multiple shootings and other acts of youth violence in a place like North Philadelphia for example. After awhile, the news stops covering it because it becomes expected. But that doesn't mean it's not happening.

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What's Not Happening

Submitted by Stephen Benedict-Mason on July 13, 2009 - 4:24pm.

As I said in my column, the media tells you what's new...not what's old. So excessive violence in places like North Philadelphia will just naturally go unreported. Indeed, people have a tendency to adjust to the status quo. You'd need a front page devoted to multiple acts of compassion and caring in the City of Brotherly Love to attract reader attention. Now THAT would be news.

Steve