Port Arthur reminds us how the media should cover mass shootings

April 28
30 mins

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Episode Description

On the 30th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre -  and in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack - media scholar Dr Glynn Greensmith's timely new book investigates the power of the press in covering mass shooting events. Coverage that is sensational, speculative and focused on the profile of the killer risks inspiring future mass shootings, because perpetrators are often driven by a desire for infamy. Victim-centred journalism however, has the possibility to guide public discourse, influence good policymaking and save lives.

  • Guest: Dr Glynn Greensmith, senior lecturer in journalism, Curtin University, author of Mass Shootings, Media and Motive: How Changing Coverage Can Save Lives (April 2026)
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