Christopher Scanlon's opinion piece ‘Reporting of a horrific event becomes a crass spectacle,’ examined the media coverage of the Virginia Tech massacre,  in The Age on 20.4.07. Mr Scanlon’s article was praised for challenging the sensationalised reporting of the shootings, and pointing out that such coverage would only reinforce stereotypes linking mental illness with violence.

StigmaWatch contacted Mr Scanlon and congratulated him on promoting more responsible reporting, and highlighting the misunderstanding of links between mental illness and violence.