Events

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

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

CTSPJ to host half-day training on covering guns and gun issues

Join Keene State College journalism professors Mark Timney and Chad Nye, as well as gun safety and training experts from Greyson Guns in Orange, Conn. for a half-day training session on reporting about gun issues.

Journalists who attend will learn how to avoid mistakes that are regularly made when it comes to coverage of assault-style weapons, high capacity magazines and gun show/online loopholes.  They will also have the opportunity to see and handle different style firearms during the workshop. Trainers from Greyson Guns will give details about Connecticut specific gun sale and permit laws.

Connecticut SPJ is hosting this event to help provide information to editors and reporters who may need to report on issues involving guns on a deadline.

There are 12 seats available for the training, which will include free lunch. Reservations are limited to one per news outlet. If seats remain available on Aug. 15, tickets will become available to a second representative from news outlets, on a first-come basis.

Registration is available here.

The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday Aug. 22 at Greyson Guns in Orange, Conn.

For more information, contact CTSPJ President Michael Savino or Vern Williams, assistant professor of journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.

A full agenda will be available in early August.

About the trainers:

Mark Timney is an associate professor of journalism at Keene State College. He has worked in broadcast and magazine journalism and as a public relations professional.

Chad Nye is an association professor of journalism at Keene State College, who has years of experience in television news reporting.

Both Timney and Nye are intimately familiar with firearms and their operation, and regularly conduct apolitical workshops for journalists on firearms.

Adam Anderson is the director of training for Greyson Guns in Orange, Conn.