Media Code of Ethics on Mass Shootings

My wife has been throwing around an idea for a couple of years now - probably since the tragedy at Sandy Hook. The media completely glorifies and glamorizes those who carry out mass murders. More often than not, in the wake of these tragedies (and there are FAR too many of them at this point), the media is saturated with information and stories about the killer. In the days since the horrific attack in Orlando, the media has not only brought a strong spotlight on the killer, they've gone to the measures of interviewing his family members and broadcasting the result on a national stage.

While I understand that it is important for the FBI and investigators to carry out these interviews, and get deep insight in to the killer's history and background....that's not what I, as a consumer of media, want or need to see. My priorities are to grieve the victims. I want to hear their stories. I want to see their pictures. I want to bring a spotlight on the survivors that need our support and comfort. These are the individuals that deserve our attention.

When My wife was in the school of journalism, She took a course on media ethics (which, at this point, is almost a complete, udder oxymoron). In that course, the ethics surrounding coverage of a suicide were discussed. The media handles suicide incredibly delicately. To the point that if a suicide occurs in a town or city, the media attempts to not bring focus to the fact that the death was a suicide, and goes out of their way to not describe, in any detail, how the suicide was carried out. Do you know why this code is followed? Do you know why the media, as a general, has a consensus on how to handle these situations? There are several reasons, obviously. A major contributing factor? COPY CATS. In the wake of a suicide in a given location, research and studies have shown that if that death is reported in any detail in the news or on social networks, that in the following days and weeks of that suicide, there are dozens of copy cat attempts - frequently at the same location as the original suicide was carried out. But, also in other locations, with the same methods used as in the original suicide.

These killers in these attacks and shootings....are committing suicide through mass murder. Their intention is to hurt as many people as they can before they, ultimately, are killed by someone. Its suicide. So why doesn't the media take this in to consideration in their methods of reporting on the matter? If this was openly, aggressively described as a suicide by mass murder...would the media still give so much attention and focus to the killer? Would they recognize that their ridiculous need to share every. single. detail of the shooter's actions leading up to the killing...every method the shooter used to obtain their weapons....incites that reaction of wannabe copy cats everywhere.

The code of ethics on how to report suicides is pretty specific, and quite well respected among journalists. Can we create a similar code of ethics regarding the media's blatant mishandling of these tragedies?

I am sharing this here for two reasons:
1. To get feedback from you all on this position.
2. To see if anyone has heard of initiatives aimed at creating/implementing a similar code of ethics.

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Media Code of Ethics on Mass Shootings