Northeastern's longest running and most extensive data source on mass murder James Alan Foxhas been awarded two EPPY Awards.
The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University Mass Murder Database won the award for 'Best Project/Community Service Report' and was runner-up for 'Best Use of Data/Infographics'.
The database has only been publicly accessible since August, which reinforces the distinction. The EPPY, which are awarded by Publisher & Publisherhonor digital news publishers in over 30 categories.
Fox's database refers to every US mass killing in which four or more people (excluding the perpetrator) were killed within a 24-hour window, regardless of weapon, location, motive or victim-perpetrator relationship.
There have been 35 mass shootings so far this year, a number Fox describes as unprecedented. In total, since the beginning of the year, the US has suffered 39 mass murders involving firearms or other weapons.
“I've put a lot of time and effort into this project,” says Fox, who has studied mass murder for more than 40 years. “Almost every day I work on it, trying to fill in details on cases — even cases that go back years. So I was surprised, but incredibly pleased that it was recognised.”
Fox's database is billed as a standards-setting collaboration among newsgathering agencies.
“This is a powerful work that demonstrates in very tangible, visually accessible ways the epidemic of gun violence in America,” writes an EPPY judge.
Adds another reviewer: “This is the kind of newsgathering work that should be required reading in our high schools and institutions of higher learning. And it should set an example for all students of journalism and mass communication across the country [an] example of how the media can shape the country.”
Fox's database provides a different perspective than other gun-related websites, including the Gun Violence Archive, which includes shootings with four or more victims, most of whom survive their injuries. About 5% of mass shootings in the Gun Violence Archive are mass murders.
The database allows users to compare mass killings year by year. It shows that just over 20% of mass murders don't involve firearms, Fox says.
“There's a lot of misinformation out there about patterns and trends in mass murder, and one way to address the panic and fears that are running rampant is our data,” says Fox, the Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law and Public Policy at Northeastern. . “This database is quite comprehensive in terms of the amount of information for each case, dating back to 2006.”
The database was started in 2012 by USA TODAY, which in 2017 found itself unable to maintain the project. Shortly thereafter, Fox began entering information into the database, and its management was shared by USA TODAY and the Associated Press.
Fox oversees the database and adds information drawn from media reports, FBI data, arrest records, medical examiner's reports, prison records and other court documents.
The site has simple graphics and an intuitive structure that allows visitors to quickly access and understand information. The publication was delayed several times as its developers at USA TODAY worked to create a site “that would last and carry into the future,” he says. Shawn J. Sullivaneditor leading visual projects at USA TODAY.
“We wanted to create something that didn't just give you a huge amount of data, but actually told you a coherent story,” says Sullivan. “That's why we chose a visual story format so readers would be familiar – and know it was always up-to-date and provided the latest information.”
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