The deadly shootings in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin on Sunday appeared to attract a certain amount of confusion in the media, and generated nowhere near the levels of coverage that the mass shooting in Aurora drew just a few weeks ago.

The complications of covering a relatively small religious group (there are between 25 and 30 million Sikhs in the world) were clear on Sunday. Outlets like BuzzFeed and writers like Sunny Hundal compiled several examples of reporters struggling with the facts of the religion: a Fox News analyst asking if there had been any "anti-Semitic acts" in the past against Sikhs; CNN's Don Lemon wondering if Sikhs have "traditional enemies," or if the shooter had "beef with the Sikhs"; a local Wisconsin station saying that the religion is "based in northern Italy."

Perhaps knowing that there was a knowledge gap, the Asian American Journalists' Association released guidelines for reporters to use in their coverage. Among the advice:

-- The word "Sikh" is pronounced "seek." -- A Sikh temple is also called a "gurdwara" (pronounced GOORD-war-ah). -- The Sikh religion is an offshoot of the Hindu religion. It was founded around 1500.

The level of coverage was also a grim reminder of the factors that can go into deciding how expansively to cover a story. Whereas the Aurora shootings led to days of special reports and wall-to-wall dispatches from the scene, the Wisconsin shootings were given much less space. Morning shows on Monday spent their first two segments on the shootings before moving on.

There could be many reasons for this, among them the fact that the shootings took place on a weekend, when media coverage is lighter across the board, and had fewer victims than the Aurora massacre -- or even that the Olympics were happening at the same time. It could also be that the specter of a "madman" such as James Holmes, the alleged Aurora shooter, drew more attention than what investigators said was an attack by a possible white supremacist in Wisconsin.

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  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A man reacts outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wis. where a shooting took place on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders look on as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A police officer surrounds the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders are directed by police officers as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police stand guard as bystanders watch at the scene of a shooting inside a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. Police and witnesses describe a chaotic situation with an unknown number of victims, suspects and possible hostages.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders stand outside the scene of a shooting inside The Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed the mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Map locates Oak Creek, Wis., site of shooting at Sikh temple.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A woman reacts with others as they await word on a shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, where police and witnesses describe a chaotic situation with an unknown number of victims, suspects and possible hostages.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders sit in the shade at the scene of a shooting inside The Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis, Sunday, Aug 5, 2012. Greenfield Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt says tactical officers have been through the temple where shots were fired about 10:30 a.m. Sunday. He says they found four people inside the building and three people outside.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders looks on as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders looks on as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Armed police investigate the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis. where a shooting took place on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Bystanders looks on as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A bystander looks on as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman stormed a mass and opened fire August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A woman talks on her phone outside The Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police personnel move outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis, where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    People watch police personnel outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police personnel move outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police personnel move outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A police officer talks with bystanders outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Various police personnel look into a parked vehicle outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At least six people were killed when a shooter, who was later shot dead by a police officer, opened fire on congregants in the Milwaukee suburb.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A man wipes away tears outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis. where a shooting took place on Sunday, Aug 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A tactical officer walks past the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Women walk with a red cross worker outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wi, where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    People mill around in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    An ambulance drives down Howell Ave as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A tactical officer runs to position as SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service on August, 5, 2012.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    SWAT officers surround the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    People look on in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    People wait for word on family and friends in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police guard the front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    Police guard the front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    People mill around in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A police officer guards an area in front of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin where at least one gunman fired upon people at a service August, 5, 2012 Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Shooting

    A woman uses a phone as people react outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wi, where a shooting took place Sunday, Aug 5, 2012.