This journalism tip sheet on covering guns in the U.S., originally published in October 2018, has been updated with new data and other information.
Guns are one of the most divisive topics in the U.S., so it’s crucial for journalists to get the details right — down to the type and style of weapon discussed.
Nationwide, 32% of U.S. adults say they own a gun and 44% live in a gun-owning household, according to a national Gallup survey conducted in October 2020. When reporters make mistakes, audiences might see their work as sloppy or, worse, perceive errors as an effort to mislead. Regardless, when the news media get facts wrong, audiences — especially gun owners — might not trust the information they provide.
