Journalism on Target program taught journalists about guns

SPJ President Mike Savino gets instruction from Chad Nye, Keene State journalism professor, during the Connecticut SPJ sponsored event, "Journalism on Target" held at the Greyson Guns firing range in Orange, Conn. Aug. 22, 2016. | Vern Williams photo

SPJ President Mike Savino gets instruction from Chad Nye, Keene State journalism professor, during the Connecticut SPJ sponsored event, “Journalism on Target” held at the Greyson Guns firing range in Orange, Conn. Aug. 22, 2016. | Vern Williams photo

Journalists from around the state received hands-on training Monday about how to more accurately report on firearms.

Keene State College Professors Mark Timney and Chad Nye traveled from New Hampshire to share their knowledge of both firearms and journalism, educating roughly a dozen reporters on the different types of firearms and how those variations can affect their work. The event was held at Greyson Guns in Orange, Conn.

Timney and Nye also cleared up a number of misconceptions among the general public, including the fact that the type of bullet only makes a marginally difference when fired from handguns, but can affect the performance of those from long guns. They also explained the difference between semi-automatic and automatic weapons, and how Connecticut’s gun laws actually affect the functionality of firearms available on the market today.

Reporters also had the chance to fire a handgun, shotgun, and semi-automatic rifle to feel the difference among each type. Reporters from the Record-Journal, New Haven Register, Journal Inquirer, Republican American, and the Day were present.

The event was organized by CTSPJ president Michael Savino and CTSPJ treasurer Jodie Mozdzer Gil, with help from Vern Williams, an assistant professor of Journalism at Southern Connecticut State University, and Peter Hvizdak, a New Haven Register photographer.

Chad Nye, an associate professor of journalism at Keene State, demonstrates a long rifle during the CTSPJ-sponsored event "Journalism on Target" held at Greyson Guns in Orange, Conn. Aug. 22. | Vern Williams photo

Chad Nye, an associate professor of journalism at Keene State, demonstrates a long rifle during the CTSPJ-sponsored event “Journalism on Target” held at Greyson Guns in Orange, Conn. Aug. 22. | Vern Williams photo

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