Resources for covering mass shootings

Journalists covering the aftermath of the Las Vegas shootings can benefit from a host of IRE tipsheets and stories about mass shootings, guns and trauma. 

As a public service, IRE is making these resources available online for free to all journalists, journalism educators and students.

IRE members have access to fully searchable resources such as these -- plus audio files from our national and regional conferences -- on hundreds of topics through our Resource Center.

Below are key resources for follow-up stories and investigations involving any mass shooting:

Tipsheets

• How to investigate gun dealers
• Consider the source: Building expertise on trauma for better watchdog + investigative reporting
• Data from Mother Jones’ gun investigations
• Gaining trust and building rapport: Interviewing victims of violent crime
• Children and trauma: interviewing tips
• Breaking news to enterprise: Orlando’s darkest week
• Investigating disaster and survivor funds

Stories

• USA TODAY's Behind the bloodshed: The untold story of America's mass killings
• Gun sales boom in Nevada after Sandy Hook
• A guide to mass shootings in America
• Orlando nightclub shooting timeline: Four hours of terror unfold
• Compensating for mass murder: What happens to the millions of dollars donated to help victims?

Conference Audio

• Digging deeper during breaking news
• Reporting on guns
• No magic bullet: how to track and report on America’s gun violence epidemic

IRE podcast

• The toughest interview of my life (episode 32)

In addition to the resources above, you can turn to the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, which has a page for covering a tragedy like the Las Vegas shooting. 
Resources for Covering the Las Vegas Mass Shooting (from the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma)