Typically, the stories focus on a description of the crime and perhaps some details about the victim and offender. This sort of media coverage elicits passionate responses from many parties, but rarely do the stories convey a thoughtful understanding of firearm violence and the public policies that contribute to that violence.

Investigative reporting requires a large amount of talent, time, and resources that many cash-strapped media outlets simply no longer have. Since a vibrant and informed press corps plays a strong role in informing the public discussion around gun violence prevention policy issues, it is important to provide journalists with the tools they need to create more in-depth coverage of the subject.

Since 2006, the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the City University of New York, has been dedicated to encouraging and developing high-quality reporting on criminal justice issues. In addition to offering seminars, reporter training, and fellowships to journalists across all platforms, it also operates the criminal justice website www.TheCrimeReport.org, which collects current criminal justice news stories.

With a Joyce grant, the Center is preparing to help members of the media working in the Midwest pursue in-depth gun violence reporting projects. The journalists, known as Joyce Journalism Fellows, will be selected by the Center on a competitive basis with support from their editors. Joyce funding will supplement support from the reporters’ respective outlets, providing them the financial backing they need to fully research and collect data on gun policy. To kick off the project, the Center will hold regional hands-on workshops for the selected reporters.

To help facilitate the reporting program, the Center will also provide research assistance to help the Fellows gather data, develop contacts, and manage resources on gun violence stories. The Center will also create online tools for project participants to exchange information with colleagues and post questions for Center trainers and administrators. An electronic library containing articles, research, and media sources will be developed for peer journalists unaffiliated with the project.

In February 2011, the Center will highlight the program during a panel on gun violence and public policy at its annual Guggenheim Symposium on Crime in America. “The symposium will be a chance to share what we hope is just the beginning of more thorough investigative gun violence coverage,” said Steve Handelman, the Center’s director. “We are eager for the public to gain more knowledge and understanding of the many aspects of firearms policy in the United States.”

For more information on Joyce Foundation’s Gun Violence program, please visit here.