Why are some crimes identified as acts of terrorism while others are not? How are critical
terms like «terrorism» and «mass shooting» defined and understood in the 21st century? What are
some of the causes of the unique American epidemic of mass shootings and gun violence?
Terrorizing the Masses considers the invisible role that the media play in shaping the way we
think about terrorism gun violence fear and identity. This book explores media coverage of
five mass shootings over a 20-year period examining the role that race religion and gender
play in framing some of the most high-profile crimes of American society. The results of this
research show that the use of «terrorism» is uneven and inconsistent. Indeed on a practical
level «terrorism» is an almost meaningless word - it is slippery and ephemeral and its
utility is largely in propaganda. This book succinctly analyzes what «terror» means in the 21st
century how news media use the term and how journalists can cover tragedy without falling
prey to the pitfalls of sensationalism fear and contagion. This book is a useful text for
courses on media ethics crime and public policy political science terrorism studies and
communication studies.
