Criminogenicity of the Media on the Example of Publications about School Shootings

Introduction. The relevance of this work is due to the growing attention of the mass media in Russia to the problem of school shootings, which can be defined as mass murders using firearms committed by students of educational institutions. This circumstance confirms the necessity of studying the criminogenicity of the media and its influence on such crimes. Methodology. The article employs general scientific and specialized methods of scientific research. Results. The criminogenicity of the media is manifested in that the materials published in them, particularly about school shootings and their perpetrators, can stimulate similar criminal behavior. It is necessary to reduce the level of criminogenicity of informational content covering cases of school shootings. One possible measure could be adherence to ethical norms regarding the description of committed crimes and avoiding unnecessary dissemination of information that may encourage imitation of criminal behavior. Conclusion. School shooting is not only a criminal but also a social problem that requires a comprehensive approach to its resolution. The mass media, as the main source of information, should be responsible for how they cover such tragedies. Proper reporting of such events will help not only to better understand the genesis of such acts of violence but also to prevent future incidents.