6. Report with intention

Give every story the weight it deserves.

Consider the impact of your reporting. Could it lead to less violence or might it risk inciting more? Be mindful of how the reporting may impact survivors, families, and communities affected by gun violence.

Some families may want you to help solve the crime. Put pressure on the police to do more and bring perpetrators of gun violence to justice.

Learn about the long-term effects of trauma, especially on children.

When possible, involve the local community in the fact-checking process. Better stories happen when working together.


The Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting was created to inform a set of best practices specifically intended for journalists reporting on community gun violence. This is the sixth post in a series introducing our seven-step guide, based on what we learned during our inaugural Better Gun Violence Reporting Summit.

Previous posts in this series:

1. Earn your place in the community

2. Remember who and what is important

3. Recognize the complexity of the topic

4. Disrupt misconceptions

5. Don’t cover; engage!

The complete guide will reside here: Reporting on community gun violence? Here’s what to do

You can learn about the panelists and listen to every session online for free. Visit: The Better Gun Violence Reporting Summit

The Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting was organized by Jim MacMillan is his role as a fellow with the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Above: City of Philadelphia Chief Epidemiologist Raynard Washington speaks during the final Summit session titled “Widening the Lens on Gun Violence Reporting in Philadelphia: Perspectives from the Medical, Public Health, and Research Communities.” (Listen)