The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting is honored to support the first year of this exciting new organization, grateful to the leadership team for their trust in us and their for hard work and grateful to our friends at the Center for Just Journalism for hosting this webinar. REGISTER NOW | ABOUT AGVR

PCGVR demos Survivor Connection at news innovation conference

Above: The team behind our Survivor Connection project — Oronde McClain, Caroline Suárez and John Paul Titlow — introduced the new project web site Saturday at Klein Camp, Philadelphia’s annual one-day conference on the future of news at Temple University here in Philadelphia. Photographs by Kriston Jae Bethel.

The Survivor Connection is a new tool that will help reporters put the survivor at the center of their coverage. The public launch will take place early in the new year.

Sammy Caiola, who also leads our new Association of Gun Violence Reporters, wrote about the Survivor Connection for the Reynolds Journalism Institute: Survivor Connection links reporters with gun violence survivor community

Community Voices of Healing, Reflection and Hope

Community Voices of Healing, Reflection and Hope is a new podcast from the Credible Messenger Reporting Project at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting (PCGVR). Host and executive producer Maxayn Gooden is the Credible Messenger Community Manager at PCGVR. She interviews and facilitates conversations among other members of the survivor community in Philadelphia, taking the time to share their experiences in a safe place and in extraordinary depth. LISTEN & SHARE

Watch now: New PBS NewsHour documentary checks in with PCGVR research director

Run, Hide, Fight: Growing up under the gun,” is a new documentary produced by PBS News Student Reporting Labs and featuring stories produced by 14 young journalists from around the country, including an interview with PCGVR director or research Dr. Jessica Beard. WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY | JUMP TO DR. BEARD’S INTERVIEW

Behind the scenes: The student producer who interviewed Dr. Beard shared some kind and encouraging words in a new op-ed published in Teen Vogue:

“After the interview, I felt seen and heard, and it was amazing talking to a researcher who studies a topic that’s so close to home for me. And I left feeling more hopeful for the future of gun violence prevention.” — Ethan Rodriguez

Visiting the Missouri School of Journalism

Clockwise from top-left, above: PCGVR research director Dr. Jessica Beard and newsroom liaison Oronde McClain, Temple University Journalism Prof. Yvonne Latty, who also directs the Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting at Temple, and PCGVR founder and director Jim MacMillan. (Missouri School of Journalism photos)

Several members of our team were honored with the opportunity to visit the University of Missouri School of Journalism last week. We screened our collaborative documentary The Second Trauma in five classes and then during a public evening event hosted by the Missouri student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. We handed out more than 100 copies of our Better Gun Violence Reporting Toolkit and engaged in conversations with nearly 150 students and more than a dozen faculty members and deans.

Read more: Documentary seeks to heal rift between public and news industry with trauma-informed approach to gun violence.

PCGVR participates in Association of Health Care Journalists national confernece

PCGVR director of research Dr. Jessica Beard introduced our new Better Gun Violence Reporting Toolkit at Health Journalism 2024 in New York recently, while participating on a panel titled “In your lane: Covering America’s biggest public health crisis.” From left:Dr. Beard, Dr. Ruth Abaya of The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention and Jennifer Mascia of The Trace

• More info and photos: PCGVR research director presents at Health Journalism 2024
• Panel recap: Why gun violence is a public health emergency
• Related:  Covering Firearm Violence — How journalists can reframe their reporting

Hundreds attend Philadelphia premiere of The Second Trauma documentary

PCGVR newsroom liaison Oronde McClain takes a question from host Loraine Ballard Morrill. Photograph for PCGVR by Kriston Jae Bethel.

Hundreds of people joined us at the Temple Performing Arts Center on April 17 for the Philadelphia premiere of The Second Trauma, our documentary addressing the harmful effects of episodic gun violence news reporting and possible solutions, produced in collaboration with the Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting at Temple University.

To learn more, see photos, listen to the panel discussions and request a screening: Hundreds attend Philadelphia premiere of The Second Trauma documentary  

Two new studies led by PCGVR research director examine local TV news coverage of gun violence

Above: Researchers participating in the interdisciplinary collaborative led by Dr. Jessica Beard met recently at Temple University Hospital to discuss future studies. from left are: Dr. Christopher Morrison, Assistant Professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Raha Raissian, Medical student at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine; Siena Wanders, Medical student at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine; Dr. Beard, Dr. Anita Wamakima, Temple General Surgery resident; Dr. Jennifer Midberry, Associate Professor at Temple University Klein College; Dr. Evan Eschliman, Post-doctoral research fellow at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; and Tyrone Muns, Temple nurse and research assistant. Photographs for PCGVR by Kriston Jae Bethel.

Two new studies led by PCGVR Director of Research Dr. Jessica Beard have been published:

  • Systematic disparities in reporting on community firearm violence on local television news in Philadelphia, PA, USA [Preventive Medicine Reports]
  • Public health framing of firearm violence on local television news in Philadelphia, PA, USA: a quantitative content analysis [BMC Public Health]
  • Press release and contact info: Two New Studies Led by Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s Dr. Jessica Beard More Closely Examine How Reports of Community Firearm Violence Are Framed on Local Television News in Philadelphia [Temple Health News]

Watch the trailer: The Second Trauma

The Second Trauma documentary tour is underway. We are visiting colleges and universities, journalism conferences, newsrooms and other organizations. To request an exclusive screening and expert panel discussion, visit: thesecondtrauma.net

Certification workshop feedback, outcomes and next steps

02.16.24: PCGVR director Jim MacMillan and Alaina Bookman of AL.com discussed our recent Gun Violence Prevention Reporter Certification Workshop in this webinar hosted by the Association of Health Care Journalists.

Get to know the public health approach

Some of the data is this video is now out of date but this is still a great primer on public health strategies to prevent gun violence, including interviews with our research director Dr. Jessica Beard and a couple of our favorite partners.


We inform journalistic practices to prevent harm and illuminate programs and policies that prevent gun violence. But we need your help.

The Weekly Brief: 12.12.24

Each week we share updates from our Center, Philadelphia gun violence prevention news from our partners at Billy Penn and headlines from across the U.S. This week: PCGVR participates in national research conference. Association of Gun Violence Reporters kicks of with webinar. More updates to our year-in-review. Read More

Please join us

We are now concentrating our social media efforts on Bluesky at @pcgvr.org.

Years of work in one concise guide, available for free

News coverage of gun violence often inadvertently perpetuates stereotypical narratives about the people and communities most impacted. Typical coverage focuses on individual episodes of gun violence and often lacks an explanation of what causes it and what could be done to prevent it. These reporting practices can further stigmatize marginalized communities and promote fatalism around gun violence prevention. By changing the way gun violence is covered, reporters can take an active role in minimizing harm to injured people, communities, and society—and even make an important contribution toward preventing gun violence.

Please enter your email address to view the mobile version, download the printable pdf or request printed copies now:

Weekly shooting victim update

Eleven shooting victims were recorded from December 1 through December 7 in Philadelphia, including one fatality, according to city data. During the previous week: 12 shooting victims were recorded, including three fatalities.

Directory

• About the Center
• Who We Are
• Community Reporting
• Interdisciplinary Research
• Professional Development
• Media Mentions
• Free Weekly Brief

Funders
• The Stoneleigh Foundation
• Independence Public Media Foundation
• Spring Point Partners
The William Penn Foundation
• HFGF
• Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund
• The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
• The Alfred and Mary Douty Foundation
• Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri
• Philadelphia Office of Violence Prevention
• The Barra Foundation Directors Grant Program

In-kind contributors
• WHYY
• Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists
• Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri
• Mothers in Charge
• AH Datalytics
• Action Tank
• The Scattergood Foundation
• Resolve Philly
• Fels Lab at the University of Pennsylvania

Community Partners
• Mothers in Charge
• YEAH Philly
• Zero Homicides Now
• Need in Deed

Media Partners
• Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting
• WHYY & Billy Penn
• The Trace & Up the Block
• Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists
• 5 Shorts Project
• Kouvenda Media
• Seeking Solutions: Gun Violence in Missouri
• Philadelphia Obituary Project
• Resolve Philly
• WURD Radio
• Columbia Journalism Review
• The Student Vanguard at Community College of Philadelphia
• Revive Radio

Summit partner institutions
• Reynolds Journalism Institute, University of Missouri
• Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma as Columbia University
• WHYY
• The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
• The Trace
• The Guardian: Guns and Lies
• Coalition of Trauma Centers for Firearm Injury Prevention
• Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
• Guns & America, WAMU
• Mothers in Charge

Surgeon General’s Advisory

This Advisory describes the public health crisis of firearm violence in America and describes strategies for firearm injury and violence prevention, with a focus on the health and well-being of children, families, and communities.

Gun violence solutions

Research shows when enacted in combination, these five key policies and programmatic priorities have the potential to save countless lives.

Lifelines

If you or someone you know is suicidal, in crisis, or in need of general mental health support, please know help is available. You can contact your physician, local hospital emergency room, or any of the hotlines, text lines, web chats, and support groups listed below. Most are free and confidential resources. Many are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Crisis Text Line: 741741
• Lifeline Chat web chat service
Samaritans’ Helpline: (877) 870-4673 (available in 240+ languages)

Journalists: Take this online course on Responsible Reporting on Suicide. (You can audit for free or pay to get certified.)

Need help in Philadelphia?

Mailing address

The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting
c/o CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia
1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107


Organization

The Philadelphia Center Gun Violence Reporting is the primary project of The Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting. The Initiative is co-managed with fiscal sponsorship by CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia and is a member of CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia.

Newsletter

Each Wednesday morning we share news, research, data, opinions and community responses related to gun violence and prevention in Philadelphia. You can subscribe for free.

Licensing

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Some embedded content, web site design logos and photographs may not be covered.