ABSTRACT
All four of these illustrative events were different. All four had very different death tolls. Each had different causes and consequences. Yet each was a very public tragedy-the focus of national attention and mourning. In each there were extensive media coverage, considerable public attention, and debate. This raises a critical question. What causes certain events to be perceived as a public tragedy? Kennedy’s plane was not the only small plane to crash nor was Columbine the only school shooting. Yet these events were raised to a level of public attention not shared by every other event. Deaths and disasters touch the lives of others daily. Everyday, hundreds or thousands of individuals experience personal, private tragedies. When and why does a tragedy become public?
