<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The article discusses the most recent Finnish school shootings in Jokela (2007) and in Kauhajoki (2008) as communicative events, proclaimed to be media disasters. These events are described as media disasters following the media logic of the network society. The media performance of the school shootings is analysed from the three different, yet interconnected perspectives: transmission, ritual and dissemination models of communication. The special focus is on the analysis of web based communication; its patterns, functions and logic. The authors argue that the most prevalent media logic of school shooting communication is the circulation of violent messages. Finally the authors suggest that the Jokela and the Kauhajoki school shootings should be considered as articulations of the culture of fear.</p></abstract>

The article discusses the most recent Finnish school shootings in Jokela (2007) and in Kauhajoki (2008) as communicative events, proclaimed to be media disasters. These events are described as media disasters following the media logic of the network society. The media performance of the school shootings is analysed from the three different, yet interconnected perspectives: transmission, ritual and dissemination models of communication. The special focus is on the analysis of web based communication; its patterns, functions and logic. The authors argue that the most prevalent media logic of school shooting communication is the circulation of violent messages. Finally the authors suggest that the Jokela and the Kauhajoki school shootings should be considered as articulations of the culture of fear.

“Web First” to Death

Ph.D., Research Fellow, Media and Communication Studies, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki

M.Soc.Sc, Project Researcher, Media and Communication Studies, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Media Logic of the School Shootings in the Era of Uncertainty

The article discusses the most recent Finnish school shootings in Jokela (2007) and in Kauhajoki (2008) as communicative events, proclaimed to be media...

“Web First” to Death

Published Online: Jan 30, 2017

Page range: 17 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0127

Keywords
school shooting, media disaster, communication, circulation, culture of fear

© 2010 Johanna Sumiala et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

“Web First” to Death

Published Online: Jan 30, 2017

Page range: 17 - 29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0127

Keywordsschool shooting, media disaster, communication, circulation, culture of fear

© 2010 Johanna Sumiala et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
school shooting, media disaster, communication, circulation, culture of fear