Abstract
ABSTRACT Mass shootings have become increasingly prevalent in the United States. News coverage of the shootings often catalyzes an emotional environment of fear, uncertainty, and, ultimately, grief. However, news can sometimes serve a different role, one that is cathartic to viewers in a time of anguish. This paper explores how local broadcast news stations in Virginia Beach provided a platform for people to process their emotions after the May 31, 2019 shooting. This study was informed by symbolic convergence theory and ritual sense-making research. Using a Qualitative Content Analysis approach to analyze the data, I examined broadcasts that aired during the first week after the Virginia Beach tragedy. The analysis revealed that local news stories and interviews provided a symbolic ritual space for viewers to grieve and allowed viewers to connect as a community.
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