AFTER NEWTOWN: a week-long intensive look at guns and the issues surrounding them

Starting Monday Feb. 18, the PBS NEWSHOUR will begin a week-long series on the issues raised by December’s school shooting in Newtown, Conn., from the way schools treat mental health to the increase in requests for concealed weapon permits after the shooting.

Both on-air and online, the Newshour will delve into every aspect of issues that arose after Newtown.

The week-long series is part of PBS’ “After Newtown” initiative, a series of documentaries, news reports and public affairs programs that provides thought-provoking context to the national conversation about gun violence in America. PBS has brought together its science, documentary and public affairs programs to provide in-depth reporting on the myriad issues related to gun violence, including gun laws, mental health support and availability, and school safety.

Monday, February. 18

Broadcast:

• A report on how the community of Aurora, Colorado, scene of last summer’s mass shooting in a movie theater, and state lawmakers are reacting to the national debate stirred by Newtown.

Online:

• Violence in Schools: Correspondent Hari Sreenivasan conducts a student forum discussing violence in schools and views toward gun control.
• Brady Campaign: A video conversation with Colin Goddard, who was injured during the Virginia Tech shooting, and who is now a background check advocate with the Brady Campaign.
• On NewsHour Extra, lesson plans on the physiological effects of tragedy on kids and tips for teachers on how to handle horrific national events like mass shootings.

Tuesday, February 19

Broadcast:

• NewsHour Senior Correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports on the ongoing discussion about the connections—or lack of connections—between violent video games and violent behavior.

Online:

• Gun Culture: An audio slideshow about American culture’s appreciation/infatuation with guns.

Wednesday, February 20

Broadcast:

• NewsHour Science Correspondent Miles O’Brien explores what scientists know, and don’t know, about adolescent brain development and what risk factors may lead a young person to violent behavior.

Online:

• Teenage brains: An accompanying blogpost on the science behind adolescent brain development.
• Mass Shooter Interview: Extended interviews with Liza Long, author of the viral “I am Adam Lanza’s Mom” blogpost, imprisoned school shooter Andy Williams, and Greg Van Rybroeck, child psychiatrist at Wisconsin facility for violent children.

Thursday, February 21

Broadcast:

• NewsHour delivers a report from Florida, the first state to record more than one million requests for permits to carry concealed weapons. The story explores the increase in requests for gun licenses in the wake of Newtown, and the arguments for and against concealed carry laws in the state where Trayvon Martin’s killing is still a fresh memory.

Online: 

• Gun Show: An audio slideshow from a Chantilly, VA gun show.
• Global View of America’s guns: A video report on how the international community views America’s gun debate, using interviews with expatriates and tourists in Washington, D.C.

Friday, February 22

Broadcast:

• From Chicago, a look at gun violence as a public health issue. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said that many more children die of gunshot wounds every day in Chicago than are killed by mass murderers in a year. PBS NewsHour explores how the Administration’s proposals for gun violence might change that statistic.

Online:

• School Mental Health Screenings: The NewsHour explores a program at a Chillicothe, Ohio, middle school that teaches adolescents to manage negative events in their lives by changing the way they think at an early age – and before potential depression and anxiety spiral out of control.
• Mental Health Funding: A discussion with a representative from the Pew Charitable Trusts about erosion of funding for mental health programs throughout the U.S. and how health reform may impact funding.
• An article exploring state and federal laws pertaining to both mental health and guns.
• A video from contributor Charles “Stretch” Ledford and accompanying article from contributor Chris Benson, examining efforts by an Illinois pro-gun group who is using humorous highway signs to fight the state’s law against carrying firearms in public.

The PBS NEWSHOUR broadcasts each evening on your local PBS station (check local listings.) For more information, contact Monty Tayloe at mtayloe@newshour.org.

Thanks,

Monty Tayloe

Communications Assistant

PBS NEWSHOUR

2700 South Quincy St.; Suite 250

Arlington, VA 22206

mtayloe@newshour.org

Office – (703) 998-1855