When we first started building our database of mass shooters, we contemplated simply housing all the data exclusively on our website and hiring a graphic designer to make it look good. We quickly came to the conclusion that the data were for everybody and that, while not pretty, a simple Excel spreadsheet was the best way to get it into the hands of the data scientists, journalists, professors, graduate students, policymakers, concerned citizens, and others, who could help transform it into something more.

Voice of America (VOA), America’s largest international broadcaster, have done precisely that, making the data accessible and fully immersive. Journalists Sharon Shahid and Megan Duzor, and graphic designer Brian Williamson have built an entire interactive story powered by our database. There are illustrations, interactive maps, infographics and charts, drop-down menus, pop-up boxes, and a whole host of features that bring the data to life. More than that, VOA pay tribute to the over 1,200 people killed in mass shootings since 1966 with a page that lists every single one of their names. Please visit their website here:

https://projects.voanews.com/mass-shootings

It was a pleasure and privilege working with VOA on this project and we’re extremely grateful for their work with our data. We hope this inspires others to follow suit.

Politicians can no longer plead ignorance. The data are other there. And what get’s measured gets managed. It’s time for action.