East Lansing, Mich. — Bullying isn’t what it used to be. In fact, it’s worse.
A newly published book, written by a journalism class at Michigan State University, explores this “new bullying,” which includes everything from cyberbullying to bullying in the workplace to military hazing.
“The New Bullying: How Social Media, Social Exclusion, Laws and Suicide Have Changed Our Definition of Bullying – and What to Do About It” focuses on aspects of bullying that did not even exist until recently.
The book was researched and written by instructor Joe Grimm’s advanced undergraduate journalism class this past semester.
“This was a project that relied most heavily on interviews,” said Grimm. “Bullying is a global issue, so we included interviews in person, by phone and email with people in many locations.”
The students interviewed dozens of people for the project, including MSU faculty with expertise in the field of bullying, the head of a bullying treatment program called NoBLE (No Bullying Live Empowered) at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, and students and their parents who have experienced bullying firsthand.
"With Gov. Snyder signing the anti-bullying law last December and giving school districts six months to comply," said Grimm, "it seemed this was a subject we could tackle and should tackle in one semester. It's clear that bullying is not a six-month issue or a one-month issue, but one that will be with us for a long time."
Highlighting the advent and increase in cyber bullying, hazing and the recent string of high-profile bullycides (suicides that came after alleged incidents of bullying), the book comes after 49 states have passed and implemented anti-bullying measures. Other methods of surviving and stopping bullying also are covered in-depth.
“The New Bullying” explores how laws, lawsuits, computers and news coverage have changed bullying forever. From band hazing to bullying in the workplace to bullying in schools and cyberspace, it details the changes that continue to plague this age-old issue.
“Cyberbullying is huge,” Grimm said. “It means there is no longer a place to escape bullies. They can bully someone who is safe at home.”
Published by the MSU School of Journalism through David Crumm Media, LLC, the book is available in both digital and paperback form. For information, visit http://news.jrn.msu.edu/bullying/.
###
Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.