Fox News Still Hasn't Mentioned The Third Anniversary Of The Sandy Hook Mass Shooting

Network Finally Breaks Silence At 3:30 PM EST

Fox News programming failed to mention the three year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting. By contrast, CNN and MSNBC discussed the anniversary multiple times.

On December 14, 2012, a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and opened fire with an assault weapon, killing 20 children and six educators in one of the most deadly mass shootings in United States history.

Despite being mentioned on other cable news networks, the three year anniversary of the shooting has not yet been mentioned on Fox News in its programming through 2 P.M. EST, according to a Media Matters analysis of internal video archives. MSNBC mentioned the anniversary during multiple shows, including MSNBC Live With Thomas RobertsAndrea Mitchell Reports, MSNBC Live With Tamron Hall, MSNBC Lives With José Díaz-Balart, Morning Joe, and First Look while CNN mentioned the shooting during CNN Newsroom With Carol Costello and New Day.

Media Matters searched internal video archives for the words “Sandy Hook,” “Newtown,” and “anniversary” on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC on December 14 through 2 P.M. EST.


UPDATE:

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith reported on the anniversary around 3:30 PM EST during the December 14 broadcast of Shepard Smith Reporting, stating, “Flags are at half-staff today in Connecticut as that state marks three years since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A gunman killed 20 children and six teachers at the school in Newtown before he committed suicide. This is the first year that the anniversary falls on a school day. The town has no formal events planned to mark the moment, but houses of worship are holding memorial services.”