How to Cover Gun Violence and the Gun Debate in America (June 2022)

This free online group seminar will help journalists develop story ideas to better cover gun violence and the gun debate in their communities. With guidance from PolitiFact editor-in-chief Angie Drobnic Holan and PolitiFact senior correspondent Jon Greenberg, participants will learn about “red flag” laws and the gun legislation under discussion by federal lawmakers.

There will be two online group seminars that participants can enroll in:

Monday, June 13, 2022

How to report on “red flag” laws: How they work and what the research shows

Looking for new ideas to prevent mass shootings, lawmakers are increasingly considering “red flag” laws. Formally known as extreme risk protection orders, or ERPOs, the new laws separate people from their access to guns, typically by allowing police to take their guns or by flagging them in firearms background check databases. Already, more than a dozen states have “red flag” laws on the books. They differ in their details and mechanisms, and researchers are studying their impact. This webinar will cover the basics of “red flag” laws and how they operate, as well as looking at questions of how they’ve been implemented and whether they’ve proved effective.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Bringing Washington gun policy home

Researchers and experienced journalists will shed light on the gun legislation under discussion by federal lawmakers. Participants will learn about some of the common misperceptions and misinformation about gun violence and gun regulation. Specific topics will include banning sales of assault-style rifles to people under 21, banning the sale of large-capacity magazines holding over 10 rounds, expanding background checks to all gun transactions, not just those involving federally licensed firearm dealers, and prohibiting the creation of untraceable weapons, so-called ghost guns. We will also discuss the role of investing in mental health interventions, and the history of assault weapon bans.

Each session will be 90 minutes long and include training and discussion. Though all the sessions will be recorded and available for replay within the course, we hope most participants can attend live to get their questions answered and contribute to a robust conversation.