Tom Teves
Media reform advocate | Challenging how mass violence is reported
About
Tom Teves is a media reform advocate who has dedicated his efforts to transforming how mass violence events are covered by news organizations. His work centers on the critical examination of media practices that may inadvertently provide the attention and notoriety that mass shooters seek through their actions.
Speaking at TEDxMileHigh in 2019, Teves presented his compelling argument for ending the type of media coverage that glorifies perpetrators of mass violence. His advocacy stems from a deeply personal understanding of the impact that sensationalized reporting can have on both survivors and society at large.
Through his association with Duke University, he continues to advance conversations about responsible journalism and media ethics in the context of tragic events. Teves challenges media outlets, policymakers, and the public to reconsider current reporting practices and adopt approaches that prioritize public safety over sensationalism.
Talks1
A call to end the media coverage mass shooters want
On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting in a movie theater of Aurora, Colorado left the town, and its nation, reeling. To many -- including Tom Teves, who lost his son in the tragedy -- the news coverage that followed focused on all the wrong things. Why did the reporting overwhelmingly fixate on the shooter rather than the lives of the victims or the heroic efforts of first responders? With urgency and measure, Teves calls for responsible media attention that acts in the interest of the public (instead of profit) by revoking what shooters want most: infamy.
| Event | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| TEDxMileHigh 2019 | 2019 | 🇺🇸Denver, United States |
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