Summer of the Shark

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The summer of 2001 was dubbed Summer of the Shark by American newsmedia outlets capitalizing on a June 2001 bull shark attack that severed the arm of 8 year old Jessie Arbogast (later reattached) and subsequent shark attacks worldwide. Abrogast's spectacular rescue and survival received extensive coverage in the 24 hour news cycle which was renewed (and then redoubled) with each subsequent report of a shark incident. The epidemic of shark attacks became the #1 news story of the summer going into September, and had a cover story on the July 30th issue of Time magazine.

The term "Summer of the Shark" is a misnomer, shark attacks in the summer of 2001 had actually been down 15% from the previous year worldwide. The sensationalist media coverage had vastly inflated the dangers of shark attacks (you are 250 times more likely to be killed by lightning) and their significance; 47 attacks prior to Jesse Arbogast's that year had received little to no media attention.

Shark researchers complain that the media coverage perpetuated negative perceptions of sharks.

The Summer of the Shark is remembered as a somewhat embarrassing example of tabloid television perpetuating a story with no real merit beyond its ability to draw ratings. It is often used as a negative example when criticizing media; reminding people that prior to 9/11 the shark attacks had been deemed the 'most important' story of the summer.

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