Shift the Narrative: Media Panel on Community-Centered Gun Violence Reporting

A Dialogue with Journalists, Community Leaders & Public Health Experts on Shifting the Narrative in Gun Violence Reporting.

What does the most ethical, impactful and empathetic reporting look like when covering community gun violence? Our Director of Research Dr. Jessica Beard participated in this panel addressing the role and responsibilities of the media. Click to play now, read about the event at Billy Penn and feel free to embed this video from YouTube.

About this event

The Philadelphia Center on Gun Violence Reporting, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, and the filmmaker behind the short documentary, Heaven: Can You Hear Me? collaborated to convene a panel of journalists, public health professionals and community leaders on advancing community-centered and solutions-oriented reporting on gun violence in Philadelphia and other U.S. cities.

Changes in U.S. newsrooms in recent decades have reduced the capacity for in-depth reporting, including stories about gun violence. “Shift the Narrative” panelists explored the challenges of centering the perspectives of survivors and impacted community members while offering views about how to improve reporting on gun violence and gun violence prevention.

The featured speakers and moderators for the conversation included:

Ernest Owens, President, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (Moderator)
Denise Clay-Murray, Reporter/Editor, The Philadelphia Sun
Jessica Beard, Trauma Surgeon, Temple University Hospital and Director of Research, Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting
Tyrique Glasgow, Founder, Young Chances Foundation
Mazzie Casher, Director, PHILLY TRUCE, Inc. & Co-Creator, PHILLY TRUCE APP
Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, Founder & National Executive Director, Mothers in Charge
Beatrice Forman, Digital Culture Journalist, Billy Penn (Digital Q&A Moderator)

The conversation was the first in a series of virtual events that highlight themes from the film Heaven: Can You Hear Me? – released on the World Channel and PBS affiliates in February 2022. The film explores the impact of gun violence on Philadelphia families through the perspective of mothers who have lost loved ones, and frontline activists.

Special thanks to the organizational sponsors – The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting and Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists; organizational collaborators – Mothers in Charge, Young Chances Foundation, and Philly Truce; and production partners – Human Impact Solutions and Humanature.